Shelter from the Storm: Winter Roosting Boxes

You aren’t the only one looking to stay warm and safe during winter storms. Consider a roosting box to provide a haven for local birds.

Different from nesting boxes or houses, roosting boxes have entrances at the bottom, to keep warm air trapped inside the box. They typically come with perch pegs or ladders to allow a crowd of birds to huddle together to escape bad weather and benefit from each other’s body heat. Place the house where it will receive the most sunlight to maximize warmth.

Above: Duncraft’s Convertible Roosting House has a ladder inside to allow six or more birds to perch. In spring, the box can be converted into a nesting box by removing the ladder and turning the front panel so the entry hole is at the top. Crafted of Eastern white pine with a slate predator guard around the entrance, it measures 7-by-9-by-13 inches; $59.95 at Duncraft.

Above: Made of Eastern white pine, Coveside’s Small Winter Roosting House is perfectly proportioned for most small backyard birds. It measures 13 inches tall and 9 inches wide and comes with a metal hanger, slate predator protector around the entrance, and a tilting front panel for easy cleaning; $34.23 at Amazon.

Above: Made in Michigan, the cedar Stovall 15H Roosting Box features an opening panel for cleaning and two 15-inch perches inside. The large two inch diameter opening to allow multiple species to use it at the same time during extreme cold weather; $31.19 at Amazon.

Above: The WoodLink Cedar Winter Roosting Box measures 9.75 inches wide and 14.75 inches high; $42.78 at ATG Stores.

N.B.: See our other Avian Dwelling Posts for more ideas.