How big should I make a Green Woodpecker nest box hole
How big should I make a Green Woodpecker nest box hole
I recently built a nesting box for Green Woodpeckers. I read lots of conflicting information as to what size to make the nest box entrance hole.
After lots of deliberation, I decided upon 7.5 cm (3 inches). The day after we installed the box, we had a nesting pair visit the box and to my surprise, watched the female Green Woodpecker squeeze in and out of the box. The pair have now enlarged the hole even more!
In future I would make the hole at least 8cm (3.2") and ensure the wood is soft enough for the Green Woodpeckers to enlarge it if they need to.
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Ready to install - note the rough edges on the inner nest box hole
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She managed to squeeze in, her beak poking out
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The Green Woodpecker nest box site on a telegraph pole
I felt it might be a good idea to leave the woodpeckers a little extra work so they would be able to make the nest box their own. To this end, I deliberately left rough edges on the inner nest box hole. The small piece of of bark I fitted to the outside of the nest box was the same size (3cm) was from willow, which is a relatively soft wood.
Greater Spotted Woodpecker nest box hole size
The same day our Green Woodpeckers visited, we also had a solitary Greater Spotted Woodpecker visit. She easily managed to get in and out of the 7.5 cm (3 inch) nest box entrance hole, but was chased off by the larger Green Woodpeckers. on the strength of this I would make the entrance hole 7.5 cm (3 inches) wide for a Greater Spotted Woodpecker.
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