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Fancy Bird Houses

By Linda "Puddin" Bree

Click here to see our selection of Fancy Bird Houses.
Fancy Bird Houses

The fancy birdhouses on the market today lend themselves as functional works of art for the indoor or more commonly outdoor living space.  The vast selection available allows the bird lover to choose the perfect design(s) and proper accessories to compliment indoor décor and outdoor landscape and architecture.  The aesthetic features of these fancy birdhouses should complement personal taste and the design should be functional for the specific type of bird(s) that the bird lover wishes to attract.

Fancy birdhouses come in all shapes, sizes, materials, themes and designs.  A growing number of these pieces are representative of the Victorian architecture found in the United States in the mid to late 19th Century.  A large number of these birdhouses are miniature reproductions of specific historic buildings.  Other common styles of fancy birdhouses include representations of cottages, churches, barns, log cabins and lighthouses.  Decorative, holiday birdhouses help rouse the Christmas spirit with dreamlike snowbound settings just waiting for long lost relatives to walk in the door.  Many of these holiday birdhouses are for indoor use only.

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These fancy bird houses range in size from less than 12 inches to greater than 27 inches tall.  While the sizes of the openings and actual cavities are important to the potential avian guests,  the overall size is often a function of the budget, existing landscape and taste of the bird lover.  Consider that a birdhouse of greater than 24 inches will become the dominant feature in most back yards today.  These pieces also vary significantly in price.  The smaller pieces run less than $50 to greater than $250 for the most grand and elegant birdhouses.  They are a great alternative for gifts to and from any proud bird lover.

Types and material used to design decorative birdhouses vary and the proper choice will provide an oasis for avian wildlife possibly competing for shelter.  Commercial development and the removal of damaged or diseased trees and shrubbery drive this demand from our feathered friends.  Maintenance and longevity of the material your birdhouse is comprised of is also a key factor in your selection.  Your choices can include:

  • Wood structure including finish work and shingles
  • Ceramic
  • PVC
  • Copper Roofs
  • Stained glass

A large variety of styles are offered to accommodate human tastes but most importantly, the size of the birdhouse is the prominent consideration as its specifications will need to adhere to the species of bird you desire to attract.  Most commercially made bird houses have entrances holes that range in size from 1-1/8 inch to 2-1/2 inches.  Seemingly minor variations in the size of the opening, even 1/8th of an inch will have bearing on the type of bird you will attract.  The following describe some of the preferred entrance sizing for the most common species of cavity dwelling birds:

  • 1-1/8 inch: Chickadees and House Wrens
  • 1-1/4 inch: Tufted Titmice, Nuthatches, and Downy Woodpeckers
  • 1-1/2 inch: Bluebirds and Ash-throated Flycatchers
  • 2- 2 ½ inch: House Finches and Purple Martins

Too much or too little floor space is just as critical as the cavity size.  The wrong size will not attract the desired nesting bird.  The smaller cavity nesters such as the chickadees and wrens prefer a 4” x 4” living space and the larger birds prefer up to 6” x 6” for larger birds such as most woodpeckers, flycatchers and purple martins.

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The mount of your new fancy birdhouse has both aesthetic and practical considerations for attracting and protecting your favorite wild birds. Mounts can range from a hanging wire or chain to posts, poles, pedestals as well as surface mounting such as a flat fence.  Many of the larger and most grand birdhouses are designed to stand alone atop a 4”x4” post or decorative pedestal.  These usually come with a built-in mounting socket that sets right on top of the post.  Most ceramic and stained glass birdhouses are designed to be hung from an overhead porch, tree limb or shepherds hook.  However, many small cavity nesting birds prefer houses with a fixed vice hanging mount.   Distance above the ground, proximity to man-made structures and the landscape that surrounds your birdhouse will all effect which species will choose to nest in it because of their preferred nesting habits.

Other practical aspects to consider when selecting a fancy birdhouse include: ventilation, drainage and cleaning access.    Adequate ventilation holes near the top of the birdhouse help maintain fresh air, a dry house and prevent the nestlings from overheating in the summer.  Drainage is also an important aspect since in a downpour most likely rain will get inside.  Birdhouses should be equipped with ¼ inch drainage holes in the bottom.  Nestlings can potentially drown in standing water if adequate drainage is not provided.  Also look for a birdhouse that allows easy access to inspect nestlings and clean out old nests after your birds have fled for the season.   

Let’s face it; wild birds are perfectly happy to take up residence in the hollow fallen tree if given the choice.  The beautiful detail, elegance and character of today’s fancy bird houses do much more to satisfy the aesthetic taste of the bird lover or the new home owner than please the wild birds.  The good news is that these truly functional works of art can satisfy both the bird lover and the birds!  You must be aware of the practical considerations for attracting your favorite wild bird before your select a piece to complement your outdoor living space or indoor decor.  The large variety of fancy bird houses available offers the perfect choice to suit the individual taste of every bird lover and offer a safe and welcoming home for their favorite feathered guests!

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No matter your budget or sense of style at wildbirdhouse.com you will find over 500 items to choose from.  As a family owned company we have worked extensively to provide you with some of the most innovative, classic, unique and varied products to be found.  Our manufactures include:

  • Home Bazaar
  • A Wing and a Prayer
  • Lazy Hill
  • Byer of Maine
  • Paul Anthony Stoneware 
  • Wilderness Products Series
  • Black Hills Glass Works  
  • eHeartwood
  • Rosso International
We thank you for visiting our website today and hope you will add us to your favorites or bookmark us for future use and reference.

 

Click here to see our selection of Fancy Bird Houses.