Bird houses in winter offer welcome sanctuary, especially during extreme cold and snow.
Bird houses?! Do birds use them and are they really needed in winter? Yes! Bird houses in winter are lifesavers, especially during the extreme cold temperatures and freezing precipitation we’re continuing to have this week.
It’s time to go ahead and clear all the nesting debris from your houses (if you haven’t already). It’s also a good time to go ahead and put up new bird houses, too. But, what’s the rush?
Spring and nesting season may still be weeks or a couple of months away, but there’s one really, really good reason to have your bird houses ready for occupants now:
Offer songbirds a refuge from winter weather.
During cold winter temperatures and extreme weather, clean, dry bird houses can be a lifesaving refuge for some of our favorite songbirds.
Make roosting warm—and safe.
And it’s not just about staying warm. It also helps with another aspect of winter—lack of natural foliage in which to shelter and hide. Your bird houses also offer opportunities for secure roosting; providing respite and protection from predators. (See Cornell Lab’s Allaboutbirds.org for ‘Will Birds Use Nest Boxes To Roost In For Warmth During The Winter?‘)
Which birds will use bird houses in winter?
You’re most likely to see cavity-nesters, like Eastern Bluebirds, Black-capped Chickadees, Titmice and Carolina Wrens using bird houses for shelter. But, even if they’re not using them now, it doesn’t hurt to have bird houses up and ready!
Even if you’re not seeing them sheltering in bird houses right now, early nesters, like Eastern Bluebirds are noticing nesting box locations. Although it’s still a few weeks before they begin pairing up and readying their nests; having your Bluebird boxes up now is ‘good advertising’!
If you don’t have a bird house
If you don’t have a bird house, there are other ways you can help your backyard birds through winter, read on down to the next section. But, if you’re ready to add a bird house to your backyard and need a bit more information, see our Resource pages for help with choosing a bird house, placing it in your yard and maintaining it through every season. See ‘The Backyard Naturalist’s Guide to Bird Houses and Recommended Resources‘.
Or just stop by the store and tell us about your backyard birds! The Backyard Naturalist team will help you get the house that’s right for you and your birds. We’re always here to help, at every step of the way.
Other ways to support your backyard birds during winter
For other ways you can support wild birds during winter, see our current seasonal list of tips for backyard birding in our The Backyard Birder’s Winter Checklist.
Want to get our seasonal checklists delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter!
Stay warm and enjoy winter backyard birding!
