Build a birdhouse – global village style

An adaptable plan that is easy to customize according to the variety of bird wanted.

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Materials and tools
Cutting
Roof
Chimney and sign
Holes
Assembly
Finishing

Materials and tools

The dimensions of the component pieces of this birdhouse are specifically designed for blackbirds and chickadees. Refer to the chart at the end of this guide to find building features for other species.

  • ¼ Sheet of ½" exterior plywood (24'' x 48")
  • Nails 1 ¼"
  • 2 brass hinges ¾"
  • 1 wooden dowel ¼"
  • Construction glue
  • Table saw or circular saw with a cutting guide
  • Jigsaw or rotary saw
  • Drill, electric or portable
  • Drill bit ¼"
  • Hole saw 1 ½"
  • Tape measure
  • Hammer
  • Multi-bit screwdriver
  • Square
  • Pencil

    • Cutting

    Mark each piece with the corresponding letter before assembling. If needed, sand the cut edges of the pieces.

    The larger pieces can be cut with a table saw or circular saw. For added safety, it is recommended to cut the smaller pieces with a jigsaw or a rotary saw.

    Roof

    1. Make a mark 5" on both sides from a top corner of B, and connect the marks. Repeat on the opposite corner, making the slope of the roof.
    2. Make a mark 1½" from each lower corner, at the bottom of piece B.
    3. Connect these marks with those drawn on the side of B.
    4. Repeat these steps on the other B piece, and cut.

    Chimney and sign

    1. Cut the base of the two F pieces at 45o.
    2. Round the corners of the G piece (sign) with a rotary saw or a jigsaw.

    Holes

    1. Mark the location of the entrance 6" below the roof point of one of the B pieces and pierce with the hole saw.
    2. Mark the location of the perch 7½" under the roof point, and drill to a depth of ¼", with the ¼" drill bit. Note: Swallows do not need a perch.
    3. Drill five ventilation holes on the second B piece, as shown, with the ¼" drill bit.

    Assembly

    1. Nail the A pieces to the C bottom.
    2. Nail the B pieces to the C bottom and to the A sides.
    3. Nail the D roof to one side of the birdhouse.
    4. Screw the hinges on E and D.
    5. Glue together the two F pieces of the chimney, and then glue it on the D roof with weather resistant construction glue.
    6. Put a drop of glue into the hole beneath the entry hole, then insert the perch.
    7. Glue the sign over the entry hole.

    Finishing

    1. Apply an exterior stain on the birdhouse, trying to avoid getting it on the inside.
    All that is left is to christen your birdhouse, and to paint its name on the sign. If you leave a few feathers and twigs nearby, you will attract birds to your birdhouse. At the end of the season, open the roof, and empty and clean the inside of the birdhouse.
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