Birds only nest during spring and summer—their breeding season. But during the rest of the year, cavity-nesting birds often use these same boxes for shelter at night, particularly in winter. Sometimes more than a dozen birds will pile into a single box to conserve heat. But nest boxes are far from ideal for overnight roosting (see Will Birds Use Nest Boxes To Roost In For Warmth During The Winter?). They are usually too small for a group. Plus most birds need to perch or cling while roosting, but nest boxes have no perching surfaces inside.
You can help your backyard birds keep warm overnight with a specially designed roost box. Any backyard favorites that typically nest in boxes—bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and small woodpeckers—may seek refuge in it.
Roosting boxes differ from nest boxes in several ways. A good roost box is designed to prevent the birds’ body heat from escaping, so, unlike a nest box, it has fewer ventilation holes. Also, its entrance hole is near the bottom of the box so the rising warmth doesn’t escape.
Inside a roost box there may be several perches made from small wooden dowels, staggered at different levels. The inside front and rear walls may be roughened, scored, or covered with hardware cloth so that woodpeckers can cling to them. A hinged top allows easy access so you can clean the box.
An entrance hole about 2 inches in diameter will admit most small birds, but to exclude aggressive starlings reduce the opening to about 1 1/2 inches. Larger woodland birds, such as flickers and screech-owls, need a 3-inch entrance hole.
Mount your roost box on a metal pole or a wooden post, and attach a metal baffle below the box to keep predators out. Place the box in a sheltered spot, out of prevailing winds. South-facing boxes receive the most warmth from the winter sun.
Roost boxes can be purchased from various manufacturers. Look for them anywhere nest boxes and bird feeders are sold. And check out the links below for roost box building plans if you want to build your own.
DIY Roosting Boxes: A Fun Woodworking Project to Attract Backyard Birds
For bird lovers, few things are more rewarding than having wild birds flock to your backyard. A great way to draw in feathered friends is to install custom roosting boxes. These cozy shelters provide cavity nesters like chickadees, wrens, and titmice with ideal housing to raise broods. Crafting your own DIY roosting boxes allows you to create bird homes tailored to your garden’s native species. This easy woodworking project also saves money compared to store-bought options. Read on to learn all about building and using DIY bird boxes to increase backyard biodiversity!
What Are Bird Roosting Boxes?
Roosting boxes, also called birdhouses or nest boxes, are enclosed wooden structures that create sheltered cavities for certain bird species to safely nest, sleep, and take refuge in. They mimic the natural hollows found in old trees, cliffsides, and other areas that birds rely on for housing. Since suitable natural nesting sites are increasingly scarce due to habitat loss, providing roost boxes is a great way to supplement critical habitat for your backyard birds.
Well-designed roosting boxes have an entrance hole sized for the target species, internal perches, ventilation holes, and are made of weatherproof, predator-proof materials. Tailoring the entrance hole size prevents larger predatory species like starlings from taking over the box and preying on smaller desired tenants.
Advantages of DIY Roosting Boxes
Building your own custom roost boxes offers many advantages over purchasing pre-fab ones:
-
Cost Savings – DIY boxes are much cheaper to construct than buying commercial alternatives.
-
Customization – You can build boxes suited to attract the exact species present around your home.
-
Better Materials – You can select safer, longer-lasting woods and hardware.
-
Creative Outlet – It’s a great woodworking project for hobbyists of all skill levels.
-
Learning Experience – Discover new carpentry skills and learn about native birds.
-
Control over Design – DIY boxes allow full access for cleaning and maintenance.
Whether you want to support local ecosystems, save money, or just have fun crafting, making DIY bird boxes is extremely rewarding for backyard birding enthusiasts.
Selecting Bird Species for Your Roosting Box
When designing a DIY nest box, the first step is deciding which species you want to attract most. Here are some birds that readily accept manmade roosting sites:
-
Chickadees – Energetic birds that use small 4 inch diameter nest boxes.
-
Bluebirds – Beautiful and beloved songbirds that prefer 1.5 inch openings.
-
Wrens – Tiny cavity nesters needing a 1-1.25 inch diameter entrance.
-
Woodpeckers – Prefer rectangular shelter with 2 inch vertical slits.
-
Swallows – Open platform boxes mimicking natural mud nests for these aerialists.
-
Owls – Deep interior space and large box suits screech owls and saw-whets.
Do some research on species native to your region before building a nest box. Tailor the opening size, interior dimensions, height, etc to best match their unique needs and preferences.
DIY Birdhouse Building Materials & Tools
One of the easiest beginner woodworking projects, basic bird boxes only require a few supplies:
-
Untreated Wood – Use 3/4″ boards of cedar, pine, redwood, or exterior plywood. Avoid pressure treated.
-
Hand Saw – A backsaw or miter box saw to cut boards to size.
-
Drill – Both a power drill and various drill bits for boring holes.
-
Wood Glue – Opt for non-toxic glues without dangerous fumes.
-
Screws or Nails – For extra reinforcement if desired.
-
Stain or Paint – For weatherproofing if not using cedar or redwood.
Many of these supplies are standard items for hobbyists to have on hand. Grab any materials needed and you’ll be ready to start building!
Step-By-Step Guide to Constructing DIY Bird Boxes
Follow these straightforward steps to assemble beginner-friendly roosting boxes:
-
Cut all wood pieces to the dimensions specified in your plans.
-
Bore entrance hole on front panel with appropriately sized bit for bird species.
-
Drill 2-4 ventilation holes in other sides for airflow using 1⁄4” bit.
-
Join all panels together with wood glue and nails/screws if desired.
-
Add 1-2 interior perches made from small wood blocks under entrance.
-
Apply exterior stain, paint, or sealer to protect from weathering.
-
Firmly mount 10-15 feet high on tree, post, or wall away from prevailing winds.
-
Install early in season before nesting begins and clean out annually.
It’s that easy! Following plans with cut lists and diagrams results in mistake-proof bird box building even for total beginners. Soon you’ll have DIY roosts ready for installation around your yard.
Unique Designs to Customize DIY Birdhouses
Once you master basic construction, try these unique design variations to make enhanced bird boxes:
-
Add plexiglass side for viewing nesting behaviors without disturbing birds.
-
Build multi-compartment boxes for species that nest communally.
-
Incorporate recycled items like old wooden crates or metal coffee cans.
-
Decorate with paint, carved details, driftwood accents, mini roof finials, etc.
-
Construct bark-covered houses or boxes resembling natural features like stumps or limbs.
-
Use cone-shaped predator baffles on freestanding pole mounts for greater security.
Let your creativity run wild! Advanced woodworkers can even try making tiered bird high-rises, modernist cubic houses, or Victorian mansion style boxes.
Attracting Birds to Use Your DIY Roosting Boxes
Here are some tips for getting birds to accept and use your new customized nesting boxes:
-
Match box dimensions precisely to desired species’ requirements.
-
Ensure drainage, ventilation, and appropriate entrance hole size.
-
Place boxes where suitable habitat exists and birds are frequently spotted.
-
Mount boxes firmly and high enough to deter predators.
-
Install boxes early before breeding season gets underway.
-
Put up multiple boxes to provide several options in ideal spots around yard.
-
Apply hot pepper suet or pest deterrent if starlings or house sparrows become problematic.
-
Annually clean out old nest materials to prevent parasites and diseases.
Follow their preferences, and your backyard birds will readily move into the perfect DIY cavities you built just for them! Soon you’ll enjoy hosting charming feathered families.
Conclusion
Installing hand-crafted roosting boxes tailored to native species is a fun way to boost backyard biodiversity. Building custom DIY birdhouses allows you to provide essential nesting habitat and observe wild birds up close. Follow simple construction steps and project plans to create shelters perfectly suited to chickadees, wrens, bluebirds, or other cavity nesters you hope to attract. A charming addition to any garden, you’ll love watching birds move into the ideal DIY homes you made for them.
All About Birds is a free resource
Available for everyone, funded by donors like you
American Kestrel by Blair Dudeck / Macaulay Library Search for species name or keywords
Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Winter Roost box – DIY
FAQ
Which direction should a roosting box face?
South-facing boxes receive the most warmth from the winter sun. Roost boxes can be purchased from various manufacturers.Dec 2, 2023
Do birds use roosting boxes in winter?
In winter, a few species of songbirds—the ones that nest in tree cavities or birdhouses in spring—will also use roost boxes to stay warm. Among them: bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, screech owls and some woodpeckers.
What is the height of a roost box?
-
Nesting Boxes:18-20 inches off the floor provides a good balance between accessibility and protection.
-
Roosting Perches:Ideally, roosts should be placed higher than nesting boxes to encourage chickens to use them for sleeping.
-
General Placement:Roost boxes should be placed in sheltered locations, out of the wind and rain, and at a height that keeps them safe from predators, often 6-15 feet from the ground.
How do you make a roosting box for birds?
The following recipe will teach you how to make your own roosting box for the birds in no time. The materials needed are: A wooden board or plank of wood with two holes drilled into it ($3), Two hinges that allow the lid of the top hole to open (about $2 on Amazon) and three screws that fit through those holes ($1).
What birds use a roosting box?
Bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and downy woodpeckers are a few of the birds that will use the box to take shelter from the storm. Though similar in construction to a birdhouse, the design of a roosting box has a few significant differences:
What is a roosting box?
A roosting box is similar to a birdhouse, but rather than providing a safe place for nesting and raising chicks, a roosting box offers protection to cavity-nesting birds from the rain, snow and cold. Bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and downy woodpeckers are a few of the birds that will use the box to take shelter from the storm.
Can you make homemade roosting boxes?
Crafting DIY roosting boxes is an easy woodworking project for all skill levels. With just basic tools and materials, you can build custom homes tailored to specific birds you hope to host. Read on to learn all about making and using homemade roosting boxes to increase backyard biodiversity.
What is a chickadee roosting box?
A: A chickadee roosting box is a birdhouse that has been modified to be used as a nesting site for birds. The entrance hole is smaller than the average birds head, and the roof of the box is slanted so that rainwater can run off. The “ wild birds unlimited roosting boxes ” is a company that sells boxes for wild birds.
How do you make a bird roost box warmer?
Put some moss or wood chips on the bottom to make it warmer. The roost box needs to be cleaned often to get rid of the poop, feathers, dirt, and other things that have accumulated over time. Stick it at least 10 feet up, because birds feel safer when they’re up high. Which Birds Use Roost Boxes? Many types of birds use roost boxes, including: