Building a birdhouse is a great project to introduce yourself to woodworking, and it is also a fun project to tackle for those who know what they are doing.
A homemade birdhouse in your garden attracts birds to visit by simulating natural nesting spots. To make sure the birdhouse is as accommodating as possible for birds, you need to use the right materials.
Using wood is a popular choice to make a birdhouse, as it provides good insulation and some woods are naturally weather-resistant and durable.
Which is the best wood to use for a birdhouse? The best wood types to use for a birdhouse are pine, cedar, and oak. These wood types hold up well outside, blending in naturally to the surrounding outdoors. Using any of these three will help you make an appealing and long-lasting birdhouse that will be a safe place for birds to nest.
You need to use the right wood for your birdhouse. If you don’t, it probably won’t last long when left outside, and it won’t be suited to the needs of the birds in the area.
The Right Wood For A Birdhouse
Pine, cedar, and oak are the best options to use to make a birdhouse. They suit multiple different budgets and environments. Understanding the benefits of using each wood, you will be able to better decide which one is suited for you to use.
You’ll also want to know which types of wood and other materials are safe for birds.
Pine – Pine is an inexpensive wood and is a good option if you are building on a budget. It does not swell or shrink in hot temperatures, so birdhouses made with pine can withstand heatwaves and other extreme temperatures outdoors. Pine is also a wonderful option to decorate, as it absorbs paint well, so you can paint the birdhouse easily.
Cedar – Cedar offers good insulation, meaning that birds will be able to stay warm in winter when in their birdhouse. Unlike most types of wood, cedar does not change size when it rains, so the dimensions never alter and the birds will always have space to move around in the birdhouse. Cedar is also resistant to insect damage, making it perfect for the outdoors.
Oak – Oak is the wood to use if you want your birdhouse to stand out, but do not want to use chemical-based paints or varnishes. Oak has a stunning natural look that can range from light red to tiger-striped yellow.
These three types of wood are all ideal to use to make a birdhouse. So decide which one suits your needs best, and choose from the below list to get started!
The Best Woods For Birdhouses
So there are three great choices for birdhouses, but that still leaves you with a lot of options. We’ve done some research on some of the best lumbers out there:
| Rank | Product | Wood Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Thunderbird Forest Pine Boards | Untreated pine |
| 2. | Pen Blank Spanish Cedar 10 Pack | Spanish cedar |
| 3. | WOODNSHOP Red Oak Boards | Red oak |
| 4. | P. Graham Dunn Pine Wood | Pine, dried and unfinished |
| 5. | Woodcraft Spanish Cedar | Spanish cedar, straight-grained |
| 6. | Rockler Spanish Cedar (By Piece) | Spanish cedar |
| 7. | White Oak Quarter Sawn Boards | White oak, quarter-sawn |
Read on for more about each of our favorite 7 boards. We’re pretty confident one of these will work for your next birdhouse.
1. Thunderbird Forest Pine Boards
This untreated pine is the perfect starting block for creating a birdhouse. It is a common board that can be used for indoor and outdoor features. It will withstand the weather outside, especially if treated (with non-toxic materials) or painted once the birdhouse is finished.
The boards measure 1-inch x 12-inch x 6 inches, and it is a great wood to use to build your birdhouse and to keep on hand in case you need any other woodworking or carpentry done at home.
It is an inexpensive option and is suited for warmer climates. So choose this wood if the birds you are wanting to attract your fellow warmer-weather friends.
2. Pen Blank Spanish Cedar (10 Pack)
The Spanish cedar wood planks in this 10 pack have stunning colors and will make such a beautiful and natural-looking finished birdhouse.
It will keep birds warm inside with its natural insulation, and resist against swelling or shrinking in different temperatures.
Each plank measures ¾-inch x ¾-inch by 5 inches. So you will need to do some planning to tell whether 10 planks in the set would be enough for the birdhouse you want to make. Or you can simply use it as a beautiful accent.
There is no need to paint the wood once your birdhouse is done. The wood already has a beautiful finish naturally.
3. WOODNSHOP Red Oak Boards
Red oak boards have a reddish finish, which adds warmth to the wood, and therefore to the overall finished piece.
You can order the wood in different sizes, so you can make creating and working with the birdhouse much easier.
This wood has a gorgeous finish, with a natural, warm look. It will work well as a birdhouse while being durable and weather-resistant with minimal treatments and chemicals needed.
It is suited for many types of environments, and will be a favorite nesting place for the birds in your garden!
4. P. Graham Dunn Natural Wood Finish Pine Wood
This is the more expensive type of pine wood to use, and even though it has been cut and treated to be used for art, it is a great wood to use to cut up and build a birdhouse.
You can paint the wood, stain it, or leave it plain once the birdhouse has been built. It measures 17.5-inch x 0.65-inch x 21 inches. So you will probably need to buy multiple depending on the size of the birdhouse you are wanting to make.
It is made from solid, dried pine wood, and the unfinished surface is a clean medium for you to paint or decorate it for some extra color.
The natural color of the wood is beautiful as it is, and makes for a great birdhouse on a small budget, or in a warmer climate.
5.Woodcraft Spanish Cedar
This Spanish cedar wood has a light reddish/dark brown color which is straight-grained. The wood measures ¼-inch x 4-inch x 36 inches, and machines and carves well, meaning it is easy to work with to make your birdhouse.
It has a distinctive scent and is strong but lightweight. It holds up incredibly well when hung up outside and left to the elements, and withstands against insect damage.
This cedar is brown with a reddish tint and has a grain texture similar to mahogany. Spanish cedar wood has a unique, warm look and all the right properties to create a great birdhouse.
6. Rockler Spanish Cedar (By Piece)
This is a lightweight, easy-to-work-with wood that can hold in moisture to create a natural humidor. This means it works well to keep birds warm through the winter.
The thin boards are easy to work with and the wood has so many different applications. It will successfully make a birdhouse that not only looks great in the garden but serves as a nesting point for birds as well.
The pack contains one piece of wood, measuring 5 inches x 48 inches x ¼-inch. So you should be able to work out what you need for your birdhouse.
7. White Oak Quarter Sawn Boards
The white oak quarter sawn lumber is ideal to use to create your own birdhouse for your back garden. There are different widths available, so you can make any size birdhouse you want.
It has a very natural look, so you don’t have to do too much to the wood once the piece is finished, and it holds up well in the outdoors and when exposed to the elements.
This is a lighter, more subtle oak color, with a beautiful grain that will make up a wonderful birdhouse.
Related Questions
Can You Use Pressure-Treated Wood For Birdhouses?
It is not recommended that you use treated lumber to build birdhouses. The toxic chemicals which treated wood can contain may prevent insect problems or wood rot, but it is also harmful to baby birds.
You do not want to go through the trouble of building a birdhouse, just to create a harmful environment for the babies to be born into. It’s best to leave it untreated. Besides, natural wood already looks great.
How Do You Attract Birds To Birdhouses?
Making your birdhouse look natural with wood is a good start, but to attract birds to birdhouses you should use black oil sunflower seeds. Birds will appreciate the readily available food.
There are also specialized foods that are used to attract certain birds, so it is worth doing some research as to the birds found in your area and which are the ones you want to attract.
Do You Put Anything Inside A Birdhouse?
It is not a good idea to add any nesting materials to birdhouses, as the birds will probably end up removing any nesting material before they begin nest construction.
Adding any nesting material just adds more work for the birds than what they would normally have to go through. It is best to just leave the birdhouses empty and let the birds fill them with the nesting material they find around the garden. It is their home after all.
The Best Wood For Birdhouses
Choosing the right wood for a birdhouse is so important to ensure that the birds are given a safe and comfortable environment to nest in. The best woods to use are pine, cedar, and oak.
All of these fair well outdoors and have properties that ensure they stand up against the elements, all while keeping the birds protected from either the heat or the cold.
Building your own birdhouse is such a rewarding way to invite birds to your garden, and watch as they nest and enjoy their new little home.
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