Living with Birds Nest Box guide Tweetapedia

Different birds have specific needs when it comes to nesting. Choosing the correct entrance size and box style is essential for attracting your favourite garden species while ensuring their safety and comfort.

Schwegler® Woodcrete nest boxes are designed to mimic natural nesting sites while providing a level of protection and durability that timber boxes cannot match. To help you choose, here is a breakdown of which box suits which bird.

The 1B and 2M Nest Boxes

These are the most popular choices for garden birds. While the 1B is designed for mounting on walls or tree trunks, the 2M is designed to hang from a branch, protecting occupants from cats and squirrels.

• 26mm Entrance Hole

  • Species: Blue Tit, Coal Tit, and Marsh Tit.

  • Why: This small aperture is specifically designed to allow smaller tits to enter while keeping out larger, more dominant species like Great Tits or House Sparrows.

• 32mm Entrance Hole

  • Species: Great Tit, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Nuthatch, and Pied Flycatcher.

  • Why: This is the standard "all-rounder" size. It accommodates almost all common hole-nesting garden birds. If you want the widest variety of visitors, this is the best starting point.

The 1N Deep Nest Box

This box is designed for species that prefer to nest deep in recesses. It features two entrance holes to ensure the interior remains light and airy.

• Species: Robin, Wren, Pied Wagtail, and Redstart.

• Why: The double-compartment design provides excellent protection from predators while the dual entrance holes encourage birds that traditionally avoid dark, fully enclosed boxes.

Open-Fronted Nest Boxes (2H and 2HW)

Not all birds like a small hole. Some prefer a "half-open" style that mimics a ledge or a wall crevice.

• Species: Robin, Pied Wagtail, and Spotted Flycatcher.

• Why: These birds traditionally nest in ivy, wall crevices, or ledges. The 2H is ideal for use in gardens or hidden within climbing plants, while the 2HW is specifically designed for darker locations or under bridges for Grey Wagtails.

Specialist Habitats

Certain species have very specific requirements and will only use boxes tailored to their natural nesting habits.

• 1SP Sparrow Terrace

  • Species: House Sparrow.

  • Why: Sparrows are colonial nesters. This terrace provides insulated accommodation for three families in one unit, mimicking the way they naturally nest in groups.

• Avianex Nest Box

  • Species: House Sparrow, Tits, Nuthatch, and Redstart.

  • Why: A stylish, versatile box designed to integrate beautifully with building walls, making it a popular choice for urban environments.

• Roundhouse Nest Box

  • Species: Wren.

  • Why: Favoured by wrens for its round, enclosed design, which they prefer to line with moss, feathers, and fur

Top tips for a successful nest

• Lose the Perch: Never buy a box with a perch; garden birds don't need them, and they only give predators a convenient handhold.

• Face the Right Way: Avoid the prevailing winds (usually from the West) and direct sunlight. Aiming your box towards the North-East is generally the "sweet spot" for a comfortable temperature.