Providing a manmade house for birds and bats is a time tested activity. When some of the first Europeans began immigrating to the New World, they found indigenous people housing birds like Purple Martins in natural gourds, clay and basket homes. Three centuries later, placing an appropriately sized bird house is one way to counterbalance the destruction of natural habitat caused by human activities, like construction, mining, commercial agriculture, urban sprawl, etc.
A little less than 90 species of birds use bird houses. They are called secondary cavity nesters because they adopt a nesting space made by other birds in previous years or occurring naturally. In southern Arizona, some of the birds that will use a bird house are: kestrels, owls, flycatchers, flickers, finches/sparrows, swallows, wrens, woodpeckers, and bluebirds. These prospective tenants are looking for specific amenities – the proper cavity size, hole size and placement, drainage, ventilation, a rough interior texture to assist young birds leaving the nest, and placement of the house. It’s easy to see why a one house fits all approach cannot succeed.

It is critically important that the house be easily mounted and dismounted for cleaning and nest monitoring. Some birds, like some people, are tidy nesters. Some are not. After nesting season, birds abandon the house. Other critters may occupy the house in these times. Bugs may take up residence in old nesting material. For all of these reasons, the house needs to be cleaned out after each use, and again before spring nesting season. A functional bird house that is meant for use must have a way of opening it for cleaning.

In the desert southwest, because of our generally high heat in summer, we advise orienting bat and bird houses facing to the north. This may vary in other climates, but out here, facing a house west or south will mean that the internal temperatures may make it uninhabitable during breeding and nesting season, unless it is placed in the shade.

Birds and especially bats are very cautious about picking a house. They seem to prefer one that looks and/or is weathered. A new house may not be occupied until has been in place for a year or two or more. If you have patience and an experimental attitude, you may very well be rewarded with birds and/or bats nesting and roosting in your own bird house.

All of our bird houses are proudly made in the USA.

Wild Bird Store Bird Houses

We make some or our own bird houses.

• We build them out of western inland incense cedar, one the best materials for outdoor use. It is 3/4" to 1” thick, bug resistant, water resistant, and not prone to splintering or cracking.
• The inside of each box is intentionally left rough so that the young birds can climb out easily.
• The exterior is fine sanded and oiled.
• The hole size and distance of the hole from the floor is specific to the bird for which it is made.
• All houses are easily cleaned. 
• Most have a removable panel to facilitate cleaning and monitoring.
• The floors are recessed and include drainage holes.
• The roofs are slanted or peaked to protect the occupants from rain.
• Small openings are cut for ventilation. 
• We can make custom size bird houses. Please call 520-322-9466 or email (wildbirdstore@msn.com) for cost and shipping on custom orders.

Nuthatch House

Hand-crafted in the Mid-west by Nature Products, this house is ideal for all small songbird species like finches.

Some warblers and other small songbirds may want to use this house also. Its size is also good for the small wrens. If you happen to have nuthatches, it is ideal!

Made from western red cedar it comes complete with clean-out and also includes a package of nesting material, too!

$41.99   #584

Wild Bird Store Small Songbird/ Elf Owl House

Handcrafted by Jon, these little bird houses are designed for little songbirds and elf/pigmy owls. Owls are always the end users of the houses – they will evict any other songbirds and take over this house. This model features a slotted rectangular entrance/ exit (discourages sparrow from using it), overhanging protective roof and drainage in the bottom.

The slot is useful in two other ways. It provides adequate ventilation, and your hand easily fits through the slot so that you can clean out the house.

Has beautiful contrasting grain pattern to the wood. Two predrilled holes, one at the top and one at the bottom of the house are provided for easy mounting.

$39.99

(Item #524)

Recycled Bluebird House is made of 98% recycled material. Not only is it green in color, each house is rated to save 20 plastic milk jugs from going to the landfill. It is easy to care for and easy to clean. The recycled material looks new, year after year. Its dimensions are just what bluebirds want in a home.

$38.99 (Item #671)

Mason Bee Lodge by Schrodt Designs

Hand-crafted by some of the best nature design artisans from recycled redwood, this item will add beauty and provide needed help to these non-aggressive bees. Mason bees are solitary workers and only associate with others at the lodge. Each hole is a nest site and each bee will pack the back
of the hole with pollen and lay a single egg (the pollen then becomes food for the emerging larva).

Mason bees are favorites of gardeners as they pollinate every plant that needs it, making your garden more productive and fruitful.

Comes with easy to follow instructions on where to install for best results.

$46.99 (Item #131)

Economy Bluebird House is made from inland incense cedar. Built to bluebird specific dimensions, it opens easily for cleaning. It is a practical, functional and economical house to offer up to one of America's favorite birds.

$29.99 (Item #267)

Wild Bird Store Small Songbird House

Used by small birds, like House Finches, Wild Bird Small Songbird House is a traditional bird house. It features a 1 ½” hole, a peaked roof, floor drainage, and top ventilation. A swing out cleaning panel, closed by a Phillips head screw, serves as one of the sidewalls.

$39.99 (Item #262)

We welcome custom orders

Although we try to keep a good selection of bird houses on hand, we may not always have every species of house available at any given time. It is best to contact us by phone, fax, email, or mail to order your bird house. It may take 4-6 weeks to receive your bird house if it is not in stock.

Looker is a family business since 1983. Their line of bird and bat houses is constructed from red western cedar, features ventilation and drainage holes, and opens easily for monitoring and cleaning. All of their bluebird houses are approved by the North American Bluebird Society.

View Thru Bluebird House
View Thru Bluebird House features a clear plastic window that prevents the nest from disturbance while you are monitoring nesting progress. A sidewall of the house drops down to reveal the window. Inside the house is a predator guard. Hole size is 1-1/2 “.  Functional and educational for the young ones.

5” x 9”x 13”.

$39.99

(Item #286)

Green Roof Bluebird House
The traditional and attractive Green Roof Bluebird House features an outside predator guard. Side opens easily for cleaning and monitoring. Bluebird houses can be used by a wide variety of similar sized songbirds.

Hole size is 1-1/2”.

5” x 9” x 13”.

$35.99

(Item #411)

Window Bird House
Made of Beige PVC foam and western red cedar, Window Bird House is light enough to be attached to the outside of your window by three suction cups. Attached to the inside of your window, a privacy shield keeps the nest secluded from your home activity, but easily slides aside to allow viewing and monitoring.

1-1/2 “entrance hole. Stimulating and engaging for adults, educational for children.

7” x 5” x 6”. 

$29.99

(Item #16)

Woodpecker HouseWoodpecker House is an interesting house. Since most secondary cavity nesters, that are birds that use a bird house, use abandoned woodpecker or flicker holes, Woodpecker House can attract many different tenants. 9” to 12” woodpeckers such as Red headed, Golden fronted, Red bellied, Gila, and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers like this house. The hinged roof has an easy open latch to allow monitoring and cleaning.

The hole is 2-1/8”.

The inside dimensions are 6” X 6”, while the outside dimensions are 8” x 8” x 19”.

$59.99

(Item #395)

Screech Owl/ Kestrel/ Flicker House
This large bird house has a 4” entrance hole, large enough for Screech owls, Kestrels and Flickers to make a home. It opens easily for monitoring and cleaning.

9” x 10” x 15”.

$79.99

(Item #423)

Ultimate Bluebird/Songbird House is a versatile, well thought out house made of poly lumber, a new material made from recycled plastic jugs and bottles. It features both a clean out panel and a viewing panel. A raised interior floor keeps parasites from infesting the nest.

$87.99 (Item #226)

Nesting Shelf

Nesting shelf provides a protected platform for swallows, phoebes and doves. It is made in Chilton, Wisconsin out of ⅞” inland cedar by Birds Choice.

$37.99

(Item #420)

Songbird Nest Box Kit - Help your child or grandchild build a professional bird house that most songbirds can use. Or, build it for yourself! Includes cut and pre-drilled wood parts, screws and assembly instructions. Takes minutes to put together. Only tool required is a screwdriver. Wood is western red cedar for long life and durability.

Packed in a poly bag.

When finished the assembled house measures 11-1/2”L x 6-7/8”W x 7”H.

$37.99   (Item #164)