Species-Specific Camera Birdhouses
Print Profile(7)
Description
Update Jan 2026 - Added profiles to correct the dimensions on the Wren houses. The hole height above the floor dimension was 20 mm too high in the original profiles. I'm not sure if it makes a difference to the birds but a user pointed out a problem in the profile and I decided to publish an entirely correct profile. Sorry for the error! I'm leaving the originals up for now in case you've already make that version and still need the profile.
One parametric design, sized to the exact songbird you want to attract — with a built-in Blink camera holder to watch the nest from the inside.
Designed in Fusion and tuned for Bluebirds, Wrens, Chickadees, Titmice, and Nuthatches, each profile carries the correct entry-hole diameter, hole height, floor size, and interior ledge to invite your desired species and discourage the wrong ones. A clip-in mount for the Blink Outdoor 4 sits under the roof, aimed down at the nest, so you can watch nesting, hatching, and fledging up close.
Species-Tailored Design
Every dimension that matters to a cavity nester is matched to the target bird: hole diameter, hole height above the floor, and interior floor size (Audubon recommendations). Interior fledging ledges are added where recommended so young birds can reach the entrance. Separate front panels are included for the close variants — Eastern vs. Western/Mountain Bluebirds, Carolina vs. other Wrens, and Nuthatches vs. Chickadees and Titmice — so one design covers a whole backyard's worth of species.
Built-In Camera
A clip-in cradle holds the Blink Outdoor 4 (battery-powered and wireless) under the roof, positioned near the center of the roof panel for the widest field of view. You can nudge the camera in the holder to fine-tune the framing. Cleanout and camera maintenance take about a minute — loosen just two screws and the front detaches. Two other screws and the roof lifts off.
The Blink Outdoor 4 is widely available and frequently discounted around Prime Day and Black Friday. It requires a Blink Sync Module; some models add local storage or extended range.
Smart Construction
Tool-and-glue-free dovetail joints align the base, sides, and back; only four M3 screws finish the box (two at the top, two at the front). Top ventilation slots and floor drains keep the interior dry and cool. Mount it two ways: rear screw holes for a post, or the included bottom bracket for a pole (sized for 1½″ but it will clamp to smaller diameters).
Print Settings
- Material: ASA is recommended for a box that lives outside year-round — ASA resists UV and weathering better than most alternatives. PETG is an alternative for printers that can't maintain heated chamber temps needed for ASA.
- Layer height: 0.24 mm on a 0.4 mm nozzle.
- Walls / infill: 3 walls at 8% infill — the walls do the structural work, so infill stays low.
- Supports: enabled for key areas. For the cleanest removal, use a separate support-interface material (for example, "Support for ABS" beneath an ASA print) and accept Bambu Studio's suggested support changes.
- Bed adhesion: parts are large and flat — start with a clean plate and good glue; run a heated chamber for ASA.
- Print Profile: included — seven profiles spanning the H2D and X1C / P1 / A1 (X/P/A) printer families. An optional pole-mount build plate is included in each profile.
Boost Me (for free)
Boosts are never expected but always appreciated. Please enjoy my models!
Assembly Overview
- Install M3 heat-set inserts: two per side (top + front), plus four in the base if pole-mounting. 4 mm or 6 mm inserts both work; keep the iron temperature as low as it will go.
- Slide the sides and back into the dovetail joints (clear any support from the dovetails first; a little light oil helps if they're tight).
- Clip in the camera if desired, placing the lens near the center of the roof panel for the best view.
- Attach the top with two M3×12 screws, then the front with two more.
- For a post: secure through the rear screw holes. For a pole: attach the pole bracket with four M3×6 screws and tighten the printed clamp screw to the pole.
Species Dimensions
| Species | Hole diameter (in) | Hole height (in above floor) | Floor size (L × W, in) | Interior ledge? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickadee / Titmouse | 1 1/8 | 6 | 4 × 4 | Yes |
| Nuthatch | 1 1/4 | 6 | 4 × 4 | No |
| Eastern Bluebird | 1 1/2 | 5 | 5 × 5 | Yes |
| Western / Mountain Bluebird | 1 9/16 | 5 | 5 × 5 | Yes |
| Wren | 1 1/8 | 4 | 4 × 4 | Yes |
| Carolina Wren | 1 1/4 | 4 | 4 × 4 | Yes |
From the Designer
I design my models in Fusion, print prototypes, then revise and repeat until I think it's worth sharing with you. My pictures are of the actual models I design and print — I use AI to add the captions and logos and make the photos look more professional, but you're looking at a designed model, not merely a downloaded one!
Extra Info
The "wood-grain" effect on some photos was created with PandaN's wood-grain modifier — worth experimenting with on this or any other design. Filaments shown are Polymaker ASA in Olive Brown and Army Brown.
Pick your species, print the right home, and mount a camera where you can watch the whole season unfold.
License
You shall not share, sub-license, sell, rent, host, transfer, or distribute in any way the digital or 3D printed versions of this object, nor any other derivative work of this object in its digital or physical format (including - but not limited to - remixes of this object, and hosting on other digital platforms). The objects may not be used without permission in any way whatsoever in which you charge money, or collect fees.
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