Top 5 compared
The best birdhouses
Bluebirds, wrens or chickadees raising a family in the backyard, in a house you put up for them.
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The top 5 at a glance
A birdhouse is a nest box for the backyard’s cavity nesters, the birds that would otherwise raise a family in a hole in a tree: bluebirds, wrens, chickadees and tree swallows. The entrance hole decides who moves in: bluebird boxes have a hole of about 1.5 inches, and a smaller one suits wrens and chickadees. Some boxes mount on a post or a fence, others hang from a branch.
Where it goes matters as much as which one you buy. Cornell’s NestWatch advises a bluebird box on a post 4 to 6 feet up, facing open ground such as a lawn, and clearing out the old nest once a brood has flown. Every house here has a door or panel that opens for that.
What matters
- A predator guard around the entrance hole.
- Grooves inside below the hole, so fledglings can climb out.
- Vents and drainage, for hot days and wet ones.
- Cedar, which stands up to the weather.
#1SISTERBIRD Cedar Bluebird Houses (2-pack)
$30–$50
Two untreated cedar houses, each with a 1.5 in entrance hole ringed by a copper guard against predators, and grooves inside like a little ladder so the fledglings can climb out when they’re ready. Both houses arrive as rough, unpainted cedar.
What owners say: Owners praise the solid cedar build and the well-placed pre-drilled holes, and report bluebirds and phoebes moving in; a few have had the wood split.
A closer look: Assembly needs only a screwdriver, and the outside can be left as bare cedar or painted to suit the yard. With two in the pack, one can go on a post at the edge of the lawn and the other across the yard, and each front door opens for a clean-out after the young have flown.
- Two houses in the pack
- Copper predator guard
- Ladder grooves for fledglings
- Front door opens for cleaning
- Assembles with a screwdriver
Best for: Bluebirds, wrens and swallows
- Material
- Untreated cedar
- Size
- 6 × 5.2 × 10.8 in
- Entrance hole
- 1.5 in
#2Glitzhome Hanging Wooden Birdhouse (9.7 in, rustic blue)
$20–$30
A handmade cottage in distressed rustic blue, with a raised tree and bird on the front, that looks as good hanging on a porch as it does in a tree, and its 1.18 in hole is sized for wrens and chickadees.
What owners say: It looks just like its pictures, owners say, with bright colors that last, and nesting birds have moved in, though it can be smaller than people imagine.
A closer look: From a sheltered branch or a porch hook, out of reach of cats, it hangs on its own metal hanger. The back panel lifts off when the young have gone, and the distressed paint means a little weathering only adds to the look.
- Handmade in distressed blue
- Raised tree and bird design
- Back panel lifts off
- Metal hanger included
Best for: A porch display birds can nest in
- Material
- Wood and metal
- Size
- 5.1 × 4.3 × 9.8 in
- Entrance hole
- 1.18 in
#3Wild Wings Cedar Bluebird Box (WWCH3)
$20–$30
A classic cedar bluebird box with a deep predator guard that extends the entrance hole, vents in the walls and floor, and a clean-out door for clearing it between broods. It goes on a pole or flat against a post or wall.
What owners say: Owners call it well made and handsome, say eastern bluebirds take to it, and find cleaning it out easy; most think it will see out many seasons, though some have seen the wood split.
A closer look: Grooves cut inside below the hole give the young birds a grip to climb up and peer out before they fledge. Open the clean-out door between broods to lift out the old nest, so the parents can raise a second family in the same box that season.
- Deep predator guard
- Vents in walls and floor
- Clean-out door
- Pole or flush mount
- Grooves for fledglings
Best for: A ready-built bluebird box
- Material
- Cedar
- Size
- 5.5 × 8.1 × 12 in
- Entrance hole
- 1.5 in
#4STARSWR Hanging Wooden Birdhouse
$20–$30
A teardrop-shaped wooden house that hangs from a branch on a hemp rope, with a 1.57 in hole, a little platform below it for landing, and a door at the back for airing it out and cleaning.
What owners say: Birds have nested in it for plenty of owners, who say it’s solid and simple to clean out; some think it too small, and a handful report it lasting only about three years.
A closer look: Hang it from a sturdy branch, a vine or a fence where it can be seen from the house, and tie the rope short so it can’t swing into the trunk on a windy day. When nesting is over, open the back door to clear out the old nest.
- Hangs from a hemp rope
- Teardrop shape
- Landing platform under hole
- Back door for cleaning
Best for: Hanging from a tree
- Material
- Wood
- Size
- 6.9 × 5.9 × 7.8 in
- Entrance hole
- 1.57 in
#5UUMENHA Bird House with Metal Predator Guard
$10–$20
A small carbonized wooden box that comes fully built, with a stainless steel guard around the hole, grooves inside to help fledglings climb out, and a pre-drilled hole and rust-proof screw for fixing it straight to a tree or fence.
What owners say: Its looks and quick setup win owners over, and one had bluebirds nesting within days; others had the roof split or the wood warp, and some found it didn’t last.
A closer look: It’s ready to go out of the box: one screw through the pre-drilled hole fixes it to a fence post or tree. The carbonized finish needs no paint or stain, but look over the roof each spring before the birds return.
- Comes fully assembled
- Stainless steel predator guard
- Screws straight to a tree
- Fledgling grooves inside
- No paint or stain needed
Best for: Mounting on a post or fence
- Material
- Carbonized wood
- Size
- 5.5 × 5.5 × 9.9 in
- Entrance hole
- –
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1SISTERBIRD 2-pack | #2Glitzhome cottage | #3Wild Wings WWCH3 | #4STARSWR hanging | #5UUMENHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | ||||
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Price | $30–$50 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $10–$20 |
| Material | Untreated cedar | Wood and metal | Cedar | Wood | Carbonized wood |
| Size | 6 × 5.2 × 10.8 in | 5.1 × 4.3 × 9.8 in | 5.5 × 8.1 × 12 in | 6.9 × 5.9 × 7.8 in | 5.5 × 5.5 × 9.9 in |
| Entrance hole | 1.5 in | 1.18 in | 1.5 in | 1.57 in | – |
| Best for | Bluebirds, wrens and swallows | A porch display birds can nest in | A ready-built bluebird box | Hanging from a tree | Mounting on a post or fence |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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