Who Raises Baby Birds in Bird Houses?

Purple Martin baby birds are one type of young bird that are raised in man made bird houses. But not all birds inhabit bird houses because of individual bird specie preferences. Many birds such as Goldfinches, build open cup shaped nests on a tree branch or in a bush. This is for many people the most familiar style of bird nest habitat.

Birds who are cavity nesters will use the traditional bird houses humans provide.

Some larger birds like Owls require a larger structure and Nuthatches like a small cozy cavity with a small doorway.

There are also birds who will build their nest on a platform called a nesting shelf. Robins and Mourning Doves like to use these structures.

An interesting fact people don’t often realize is that some birds will not use a house for raising baby birds, but may instead only use bird houses to roost. Sometimes people observe that no one seems to be building anything in their house that they have erected. But they do notice some activity at times. This may be due to the fact that some birds use bird houses as roosting boxes, for a warm place to spend the night. This is very important in winter. Several birds may stay in a little house over night using their body temperatures to give each other warmth.

Another interesting fact is that Purple Martins are a species of bird which are solely dependent on people to provide their housing. Their dependence on man made homes has evolved over the years due to generational imprinting. Parents know best!

There can be an enormous benefit to humans by having some of these birds who use man made houses around. Purple Martins and Bats are prolific bug eaters. Purple Martins by day and Bats by night. They can make a noticeable difference to the amount of bugs that are around. A definite beneficial symbiotic relationship!

We take care of their needs and in return they take care of ours. (Not an even trade, the birds if you ask me end up with the short end of the stick!)

Chickadee

Nuthatch

Wren

Woodpeckers – But generally prefer to excavate their own.

Finch

Sparrow

Blue Birds

Bat

Owl

Purple Martin

Swallow

Robin & Mourning Dove – May use a nesting shelf.

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Birds123.com is about attracting wild birds to your yard (bird houses, bird feeders, hummingbirds), pet birds (including parrots and parakeets), birding and bird watching, photographing birds, and controlling nuisance birds like crows, pigeons and starlings.

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