Projects / Birdhouse plans / Screech owl, 3″ entrance
Screech owl birdhouse
A nest box for screech owls: 7¾″ × 9¼″ floor, 14″ tall, with a 3″ entrance hole. Cut from 1×10.
Beginner2 hours7 parts1× board
Have scraps? Check this project against your wood
Cutting diagram
Bright pieces are your parts; the dimmed wood is left over. Every cut allows ⅛″ for the saw blade.
Cut list
| Part | Qty | Width × length | Cut from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Front and back | 2 | 9¼″ × 14″235 × 356 mm | 1× board |
| B | Side | 2 | 7¾″ × 13″197 × 330 mm | 1× board |
| C | Floor | 1 | 7¾″ × 7¾″197 × 197 mm | 1× board |
| D | Roof, short | 1 | 9¼″ × 9¼″235 × 235 mm | 1× board |
| E | Roof, long | 1 | 9¼″ × 10″235 × 254 mm | 1× board |
How to build it
- Use untreated cedar or pine. Cut the parts, then cut the tops of the front and back to a point: mark the centre and cut a 45° line down to each side.
- Drill a 3″ entrance hole centred on the front, 10″ up from the bottom. That size suits screech owls and keeps larger birds out.
- Screw the sides between the front and back, then recess the floor ¼″ so rain drips off. Snip the floor corners for drainage.
- Attach the long roof piece first so it overlaps the short one at the peak, and screw both down.
- Leave the inside unfinished and drill two ¼″ vent holes high on each side. Add 2″ of wood shavings inside; owls don't build nests.