The best birdhouses to attract more birds to your yard

This box house from Nature’s Way may have been designed for bluebirds, but it will also attract tree swallows, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, and wrens. Made of insect- and rot-resistant cedar, it is held in place with rust-free stainless steel screws and finished with a safe water-based protective stain.

Bird-friendly features include air vents and kerfs below the entry hole that provide extra grip for baby birds to exit, an elevated mesh structure that helps deter certain insects, and a predator guard that protects the 1½-inch entrance from intruders. But it’s also designed with people in mind, with a clean-out door with a clear and crack-resistant viewing window.

Although bird-watching is already an affordable hobby, another inexpensive way to see more birds is to set up a budget-friendly birdhouse. With a reasonable price tag but a sturdy design, the Pennington Cedar Birdhouse fits the bill. It also comes with everything you need to mount or hang it.

This relatively small birdhouse is ideal for eastern bluebirds. It has ventilation and drainage openings, as well as a built-in predator guard at the 1 9/16-inch entrance. Because it is made of red cedar wood, it is also naturally resistant to insects and wet weather. When the nesting season is over, the front panel opens for easy cleaning.

The Birdfy Nest Duo is a high-tech birdhouse that mimics the look of a traditional nesting box but offers a front-row seat to the action. Made from high-quality bamboo, it has dual 2-megapixel cameras and built-in audio so you can watch the nesting and feeding comings and goings. It also includes a 5-watt solar panel and a high-capacity battery for all-day viewing via the app.

To keep birds safe and comfortable, the Nest Duo has four customizable entrances, each with a metal predator guard to discourage intruders. It also has newborn-friendly kerfs and proper ventilation to create a safe nursery, and a 10-foot range camera controller that lets you manage settings from a safe distance.

Wrens are not very picky about their nesting locations, making them one of the few species that tolerate hanging birdhouses. In fact, hanging models can be a smart choice for both wrens and humans, as they are generally harder for hunters to reach, easier for people to install, and separate enough from mounted birdhouses to add some visual interest.

This pick from Nature’s Way is made from insect- and rot-resistant cedar, has air vents along the wall and floor, and has a small 1⅛-inch entry hole that lets in and out but is too small for larger birds. It also has clean-out doors on the undersides that make the interior easy to maintain.

Owls can make fun backyard companions, and the right birdhouse will attract them and keep them around. Made from cedar wood and with a recycled poly lumber roof, the JCs Wildlife Cedar Screech Owl Nest is perfect for screech owls and saw owls.

This nesting box also has air holes and drainage to help keep the interior comfortable, and has both interior and exterior slats to help owls enter and exit. It’s also people-friendly, with a front panel that opens for easy cleaning. Nesting material and mounting screws are included, to set you up for the first year of use.

Purple Martins are one of the only birds that prefer communal housing, which is why this model from S&K Manufacturing is designed to house up to 12 families. Because their houses don’t even need to be made of wood, they are made from ultraviolet-protected plastic that is painted white to reflect heat and keep everyone cool inside.

This apartment-style option has an attractive design, with landing and take-off rails that resemble a unique porch. Each box measures 6 inches long by 6 inches wide, and you can expand it to 6 inches long by 12 inches wide if you want to give your birds more room.

If wet weather is common where you live, this Whitehorse Birdhouse is worth a look. It has several thoughtful design features that make it more weather-resistant than most, with a large slanted roof and kerf to deflect rainwater, and angled vent holes at the top to prevent water dripping. It also has a flip-up and sloped floor with wind- and rain-resistant joints to keep nests dry.

Made of cedar wood, its 1½-inch entry features a standard predator guard and stainless steel guard to keep out intruders. This version is great for eastern bluebirds, titmice, chickadees, and nuthatches, and the company also sells a great one for tree swallows and other species.