If you're looking to attract cardinals to your yard, one of the best things you can do is put up a birdhouse designed specifically for them. In this blog post, we'll discuss everything you need to know about cardinal-friendly birdhouses, from where to place them to what kind of materials they should be made out of. By the end, you'll be ready to start attracting these beautiful birds to your own backyard!
Birdhouse For Cardinals Plans
Are you looking for a fun weekend project that will also help your feathered friends? Then look no further than this birdhouse designed specifically for cardinals! This charming little house features a slanted roof and a large front opening to make it easy for birds to enter and exit, while the perch provides a perfect spot for them to rest. Plus, the bright red color is sure to add some pizzazz to your yard or garden!
Here are just a few things you'll need to get started on your cardinal birdhouse:
- 1/2" thick exterior grade plywood (we used cedar)
- Circular saw or jigsaw
- Paint or stain of your choice
- Drill with 1/4" bit
- Ruler or tape measure
- Pencil
- Nail gun & 2" nails OR hammer & 3/4" finishing nails
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Sandpaper (optional)
- Safety goggles (always wear when using power tools!)
Attracting Cardinals To Your Birdhouse
Cardinals are one of the most popular backyard birds in North America. Cardinals are easily identified by their bright red plumage. Male cardinals also have distinctive black masks around their face. Both male and female cardinals are about 9 inches long with a wingspan of 12-13 inches.
The typical lifespan of a cardinal is 3-4 years, but some individual birds have been known to live over 15 years in captivity.
Here are some tips on how to attract this beautiful bird to your yard:
Nesting Habits: Cardinals build cup nests out of twigs, leaves, grasses, paper, bark strips, and other materials they find near their homesites. The nest is usually built low (2–5 feet) in shrubs or trees—often evergreens like pines or hollies—and hidden among dense foliage for camouflage from predators such as cats and snakes. Nests may occasionally be found high up (20+ feet), especially if there isn’t much ground cover available near the chosen site. Once completed, the female will lay 3-4 eggs which she will incubate for about 12 days until they hatch. After another 2 weeks, the young chicks will leave the nest although both parents will continue feeding them for several more weeks until they learn to fend for themselves
Foods: In wintertime, cardinals mainly eat seeds from flowering plants including sunflowers, coneflower, and echinacea. In spring and summer, they eat berries from plants such as dogwood trees.
Nesting: Cardinals will build a cup-shaped nest in the mulch on ground level or low in shrubs. A pair of cardinals may have up to 4 nests at one time which are used for raising their young hatchlings that come out blind and naked except for downy tufts of red feathers along their backside. The female cardinal generally lays 3–4 eggs per clutch.
Best Birdhouses For Cardinals
Cardinals are one of the most popular birds in North America, and they are also some of the easiest to attract to your yard. One of the best ways to attract cardinals is by providing them with a well-made birdhouse. Here are five things to look for when choosing a cardinal birdhouse:
- The right size – Cardinals need a bit more space than other small birds, so make sure your birdhouse has enough room inside for them to comfortably build their nest. A good rule of thumb is that the interior should be at least 4 inches wide x 6 inches deep x 6 inches tall.
- Plenty of ventilation – Birds generate a lot of body heat, so their house must have plenty of ventilation holes or slots near the top. This will help keep the nesting area cool and comfortable for them during hot summer days. Look for houses that have at least two vents on each side near the top edge (a total of four vents). These can be round openings or slits; just make sure they’re big enough (¼ inch) so air can flow freely through them without being blocked by any part of the house itself such as eaves or overhangs. In general, larger vent openings are better since they allow greater airflow but still provide adequate protection from predators and bad weather. If you live in an area where mosquitoes are prevalent, consider adding mosquito netting over these openings to keep pests away while not impeding air circulation.
Building Birdhouses For Cardinals
Building birdhouses for cardinals is a great way to attract these beautiful birds to your yard and provide them with a safe place to nest. Here are some tips on how to build the perfect birdhouse for cardinals:
- The entrance hole should be two inches in diameter, as this is the size of an adult cardinal’s head.
- The floor of the birdhouse should be at least six inches by four inches, as cardinals like to have plenty of room in their nests.
- Place the birdhouse at least five feet off the ground, as cardinals prefer elevated nesting sites.
- Make sure there is adequate ventilation by drilling several small holes in the sides of the birdhouse.
What Color Birdhouse Attracts Cardinals
The best color birdhouse to attract cardinals is a bright red one. Cardinals are naturally attracted to the color red, so having a brightly-colored birdhouse will help bring them into your yard. You can also try painting your birdhouse with other colors that cardinal’s like, such as yellow or orange. If you want to attract more than just cardinals, consider using different colors for each type of bird you want in your yard.
Will A Cardinal Use A Birdhouse
A cardinal will use a birdhouse if it is the right size for the cardinal. The birdhouse should have an opening that is 1-1/2 to 2 inches in diameter, and the interior of the house should be at least 6 inches deep. Cardinals also prefer to nest in trees, so a birdhouse that is attached to a tree would be ideal.
How High Should A Cardinal Bird House?
A cardinal birdhouse should be placed 4 to 6 feet above the ground in a location that receives full sun. The entrance hole should be at least 1-1/2 inches in diameter to accommodate the birds' large bills.
What Should I Put Out For Cardinals?
If you're hoping to attract cardinals to your backyard, there are a few things you can do to make your yard more appealing. Here are some tips:
- Provide dense shrubbery or trees for nesting sites. Cardinals generally nest in low bushes or on the ground beneath trees. If you have neither of these options, consider placing a birdhouse near the cover for them.
- Offer food sources year-round by planting native fruits and seeds as well as providing a bird feeder stocked with black oil sunflower seed, safflower seed, peanut hearts, millet, and cracked corn. In winter months when natural foods are scarce, birds will appreciate having a reliable source of nourishment close by.
- Make sure there is fresh water available for drinking and bathing purposes; this can be achieved via a fountain, birdbath (heated during colder months), or even just a simple dish filled with clean water that gets refreshed daily. Moving water will attract even more feathered friends!
Where Do You Hang A Cardinal Nesting Box?
A cardinal nesting box should be placed in a location that is away from any predators and has good visibility. The best place to hang a cardinal nesting box is on a tree branch or pole at least five feet off the ground. The opening of the nest box should face toward an open space, such as a field or backyard, so the cardinals can easily see approaching danger. Cardinals also prefer their nests to be close to water sources, such as bird baths or ponds.
Cardinal Bird House Design
Cardinal birdhouses are designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The most important factor in designing a cardinal birdhouse is making sure that it has the proper dimensions for the birds you wish to attract. Cardinals typically nest in cavities that are 4-6 inches wide and 6-12 inches deep, so your birdhouse should have these dimensions. Another important factor to consider is ventilation; make sure there are plenty of small holes drilled into the sides of your cardinal birdhouse so that air can circulate and keep the nesting material dry.
Another key aspect of the design is choosing materials that will withstand weathering well since cardinals generally live in areas with harsh winters. Cedar or redwood shingles make good roofs because they offer durability and natural rot resistance, while plywood walls lined with aluminum sheeting will protect against moisture damage from rain or snow. It's also a good idea to use screws instead of nails when assembling your cardinal bird house, as they won't loosen over time due to temperature changes like nails can. Finally, add some perches on which cardinals can sit near the entrance hole(s) - just remember not to place them too close together, otherwise, predators may be able to reach inside!
Plants That Attract Cardinals
Cardinals are one of the most popular backyard birds in North America. They are easily recognizable with their bright red plumage and black face mask. If you’re looking to attract cardinals to your yard, plant native plants. Cardinals prefer to eat seeds from native plants like sunflowers, coneflowers, and dogwoods. By planting these types of flowers in your garden, you’ll be providing a natural food source for cardinals (and other songbirds).
Cardinal Bird House Placement
When placing a cardinal birdhouse, it is important to consider the following:
- The height of the placement. The entrance hole should be 5-6 feet off the ground.
- The location of the placement. The birdhouse should be placed near areas where there is dense vegetation for cover and nesting materials such as twigs and leaves.
- The orientation of the placement. The front of the birdhouse should face east so that it receives morning sun but not afternoon sun.
Birdhouses for cardinals conclusion
Cardinals are relatively large birds, so make sure the entrance hole to the birdhouse is at least 2 inches in diameter. The house should also be placed high off the ground – around 5-10 feet – and away from any dense vegetation that predators could use as cover. With a little bit of patience, soon you'll have beautiful redbirds visiting your yard on a regular basis!
