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Species
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Differ from Bluebirds in this regard
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More Info
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| Ash-throated Flycatcher |
- Nest gets filthy
- Adult may “explode” out of the nestbox when monitor approaches
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| Bluebirds |
- Very tolerant of monitoring
- Female builds nest and incubates
- Nest does not have layers (e.g., like chickadee)
- Both parents remove fecal sacs right up to fledging (unless widowed/too busy)
- Male often perches on box
- Incubation may begin on last or next to last egg
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Differences between bluebird species |
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Carolina Wren
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- Often nests in weird places, not often in a box
- May use snakeskin in nest
- Male may build dummy nests
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Black-capped Chickadee
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- Very secretive during nestbuilding and egg laying. Does not perch on box roof
- Pull a “blanket” of fur/hair over eggs when leaving nests
- Eggs are very fragile
- Have a hard time defending nest – see competition
- Unlikely to return to the site of a failed nesting
- Can excavate their own hole
- May prefer boxes with some sawdust/wood chips in the bottom that they can then ‘excavate’
- Generally only have one brood, often laying 6-8 eggs
- Often remove unhatched eggs
- Do not migrate
- In CT, I seldom see blow fly larvae in nests, but BNA reports 71% of nests infested in TN.
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| Carolina Chickadee |
- Can excavate their own hole
- May start excavation or nestbuilding in several locations before chosing one
- Do not seem to prefer boxes with sawdust in them (which they can “excavate “
- Pull a “blanket” of fur/hair over eggs when leaving nests
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Carolina Chickadee |
| Downy Woodpecker |
- Not known to use nestboxes for nesting, but will roost in a box
- Excavate a new cavity for each nest
- Both male and female develop a brood patch, both incubate, only males incubate at night
- Males are primarily responsible for removing fecal sacs. Nestlings may only defecate after being fed 3-4 times.
- Incubation time is short (12 days), but they don’t fledge for 20-25 days after hatching
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Downy Woodpecker |
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Great Crested Flycatcher
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- Very secretive during nesting
- May prefer nest sites very high up (up to 70 ft. off ground)
- Both male and female build nest
- May use snakeskin in nest
- Female may hiss and strike (snake-like) when the nestbox is opened during incubation
- Tend to nest in same site every year (high nest site fidelity)
- One brood per year
- Young fledge in 13-15 days
- After fledging, young may only stay in area 3-4 days
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House Finch
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- Fecal sacs accumulate on rim of nest
- Do not migrate?
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House Sparrow
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- Can build a (bulky) nest very quickly (a couple of days)
- Tend to use trash (cigarette butts etc.) and many feathers in nest cup.
- Nests very close to others of its species
- Do not tolerate sparrow spooker, avoid boxes with fishing line on them, may not prefer Gilberston nestbox.
- Male also incubates
- Do not migrate
- Frequently attack nests (eggs, young adults) of other species
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House Wren
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- Male builds dummy nests
- Entirely removes prior nests and nests of other birds
- Frequently remove nests, eggs and very young nestlings from nests of other species
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Nuthatch
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- Seem to prefer a box under/on a tree
- May prefer a box with a chalet roof?
- May remain in box (up near roof) even after tapping/calling during monitoring
- During laying may cover eggs with feathers/fur
- Lay 5-10 eggs (typically 7-8)
- Pygmy may use snake skin in nest
- WBNU nestlings do not fledge until up to 24 days
- Do not migrate?
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Prothonotary Warbler
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- May nest in weird locations, generally over or near running water
- May be sensitive to human disturbance around the nest site
- Young can swim
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Starling
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- Uses green vegetation in nest
- Can build nest in 1-3 days
- Fecal sacs pile up, fouling nest
- Incubation begins with the next or next to last (penultimate) egg
- Both sexes develop an incubation patch
- 15-33% of nests are parasitized by other starlings
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Titmouse
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- Seem to prefer a box mounted on a tree or under tree canopy
- Secretive during nestbuilding and egg laying, do not perch on box
- May use snake skin in nest
- May hiss like a snake and strike wall during monitoring
- May abandon nest if disturbed, especially during construction
- JUTIs tumble to ground when fledging, fledge all at once.
- Do not migrate?
- Fewer blow flies?
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- Will nest within 25+ of another pair of Tree Swallows (colonial)
- Take a really long time (2-4 weeks) to build a nest, with lots of (typically white) feathers recurved over eggs, feathers may introduce lots of mites into nest
- Egg laying often in synch (within 7-10 days) with neighboring Tree Swallows.
- Usually only have one brood
- Often do not remove unhatched eggs
- Stop removing fecal sacs about a week before fledging so nest gets filthy (may also have a lot of mites)
- Tend to dive bomb monitors more
- Adults may refuse to budge when nestbox is monitored
- Often have head poking out of hole during incubation and brooding
- Older young may “hog” the hole to get more food
- Usually stay in box 18-22 days
- Young can feed themselves as soon as they fledge
- Young may occasionally go back in box to be fed by own parents/others
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| Violet-green Swallow |
- May nest in colonies of up to 25 pairs.
- Eggs may hatch over 2-5 days.
- Young dependent on parents after leaving nest for unknown period.
- Parents stop removing fecal sacs after eyes open.
- Fledging may occur over a period of days, young may return to the nest over the next few days?
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Violet-green Swallow |
