Question for folks who know birds, well bird houses...

[Texas]

I've seen these type of things attached to trees several times on walks in the woods, all over the country.
This one is near a new hike/bike path in my neighborhood. Most have a simple rain/sun shade that is missing here.

This week's wood grain photos collection (since it features an excellent picture of a similar tree thing)
got me thinking about a question I've had for quite a while, several questions:

Is it a bird house ? Seems like a long drop to the bottom, how do the baby birds climb out ?

I built three birdhouses this summer using my own intuition as to how they should look and function.
They are nothing like the one pictured ! Is the picture above of a bird house or something else ?

 

[mikew_RIP]

I would say its a nest box but IMO its too low for next to a path

 

[Texas]

The path is new, cut through long time old woods. Tree box is many years old.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

View attachment 326857
I've seen these type of things attached to trees several times on walks in the woods, all over the country.
This one is near a new hike/bike path in my neighborhood. Most have a simple rain/sun shade that is missing here.

This week's wood grain photos collection (since it features an excellent picture of a similar tree thing)
got me thinking about a question I've had for quite a while, several questions:

Is it a bird house ? Seems like a long drop to the bottom, how do the baby birds climb out ?

I built three birdhouses this summer using my own intuition as to how they should look and function.
They are nothing like the one pictured ! Is the picture above of a bird house or something else ?

Bird houses designed to attract Woodpeckers are often built like that. I don't know why, exactly.

 

[hark]

Walmart sells these as Bluebird houses. Although I've never seen any bluebirds around here, sparrows love them. All three of our trees have at least one of these.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pennington-Cedar-Bluebird-Wild-Bird-House-1-unit/20713363

 

[Marilynne]

Looks like an owl nesting box. This is one at Green Cay

 

[Texas]

Thanks everyone, I found this too (I'm off to Walmart today to buy the one hark shows above):
https://70birds.com/birdhouse-plans/woodpeckers/

 

[mikew_RIP]

In the uk we still have people selling these, i just dont see its a good idea to feed and nest in the same place, the last thing nesting birds want is all the other birds around the nest.

 

[Dawg Pics]

I read something a while back about the birdhouses and why some are so tall. I know the larger birds use them, but I can't for the life remember the article. Maybe an Audubon article?

 

[Marilynne]

I read something a while back about the birdhouses and why some are so tall. I know the larger birds use them, but I can't for the life remember the article. Maybe an Audubon article?

I read someplace that the larger birds will have room for their young to grow.

 

[Dawg Pics]

@Marilynne Makes sense to me. I think there is some protection from predators too. I need to find that article.

 

[Bill4282]

If near or on a lake, would be a wood duck house. Otherwise, mainly bluebird house.


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