The Best Birdhouses to Attract More Birds to Your Yard—Bluebirds, Wrens, Owls, and More

This box house from Nature’s Way may be designed for bluebirds, but it will also attract tree swallows, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, and wrens. Made of insect- and rot-resistant cedar, it’s held together with rust-free stainless steel screws and finished with a safe water-based protective stain.

Bird-friendly aspects include air vents and kerfs below the entry hole that provide extra grip for baby birds to climb out, an elevated mesh floor that helps prevent certain pests, and a predator guard that protects the 1½-inch entrance from intruders. But it’s also built with people in mind, featuring a clean-out door with a clear and crack-resistant viewing window.

Even though bird-watching is already an affordable hobby, another inexpensive way to see more birds is by setting up a budget-friendly birdhouse. With a reasonable price tag but a sturdy design, the Pennington cedar birdhouse fits the bill. It also comes with everything you need to mount or hang it.

This relatively small birdhouse is ideal for Eastern bluebirds. It has ventilation and drainage openings, as well as a built-in predator guard at the 1 9/16-inch entrance. Because it’s made of red cedar wood, it’s also naturally resistant to insects and wet weather. When nesting season is over, the front panel hinges open for easy cleaning.

The Birdfy Nest Duo is a high-tech birdhouse that mimics the look of a traditional nesting box but offers a front-row seat to the action. Built from high-quality bamboo, it features dual 2-megapixel cameras and built-in audio so you can watch comings and goings outside alongside nest-building and feeding within. It also includes a 5-watt solar panel and a high-capacity battery for all-day viewing through the app.

To keep birds safe and comfortable, the Nest Duo has four customizable entrance sizes, each with a metal predator guard to discourage intruders. It also has fledgling-friendly kerfs and proper ventilation to create a secure nursery, and a 10-foot range camera controller that lets you manage settings from a safe distance.

Wrens aren’t super picky about their nesting sites, which makes them one of the few species that tolerate hanging birdhouses. In fact, hanging models can be a smart choice for both wrens and humans, as they’re generally harder for predators to reach, easier for people to install, and distinct enough from mounted birdhouses to add a bit of visual interest.

This pick from Nature’s Way is made from insect- and rot-resistant cedar, has air vents along the wall and floor, and features a small 1⅛-inch entry hole that allows wrens in and out but is too small for larger birds. It also has a clean-out door on the bottom sides that makes the interior easy to maintain.

Owls can make entertaining backyard companions, and the right birdhouse will attract them and keep them around. Made of cedar wood and with a recycled poly lumber roof, the JCs Wildlife cedar screech owl nest box is suitable for screech owls and saw-whet owls.

This nesting box also has air vents and drainage to help keep the inside pleasant, and both interior and exterior slats to help owls enter and leave. It’s people-friendly as well, with a front panel that opens for easy cleaning. To set you up for the first year of use, nesting materials and mounting screws are included.

Purple martins are one of the only birds that prefer communal housing, which is why this model from S&K Manufacturing is built to hold up to 12 families. Since their houses also don’t need to be made of wood, it’s constructed from ultraviolet-protected plastic that’s painted white to reflect heat and keep everyone cool inside.

This apartment-style option has a charming design, with a landing and take-off rail that looks like a quaint porch. Each compartment measures 6 inches long by 6 inches wide, and you can expand them to 6 inches long by 12 inches wide if you want to offer your birds more space.

If wet weather is common where you live, this Whitehorse birdhouse is worth a look. It has several thoughtful design features that make it more weather-resistant than most, with a large slanted roof and kerf to channel rainwater away and upward-angled vent holes to keep water from dripping in. It also has a recessed and sloped floor with wind- and rain-resistant joints to keep the nest dry.

Made of cedar wood, its 1½-inch entry features a standard predator guard and a stainless steel guard to keep intruders out. This version is great for eastern bluebirds, titmice, chickadees, and nuthatches, and the company also sells a larger one for tree swallows and other species.