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	Cavity nesting birds are as the name implies birds that nest in a cavity or a hole. There are natural nest cavities such as holes in dead trees, also know as a stag, or old fence posts. Native birds are welcome to the nest boxes and one can use nesting material to identify many species that begin to nest. Identification is important to avoid destroying nests of native birds, as well as for population records kept by a number of bird societies. Native Species
Tree Swallows		tree swallow lays five to seven white eggs
Chickadees		five to eight white eggs with brown speckles
Bluebirds		4-6 blue eggs
House Wrens

Non Native Species

There are birds that try and utilize nest boxes and or compete for natural nest cavities with native song birds. These birds are house sparrows and starlings. Both these birds are indigenous to Europe and  have overpopulated the United States. They often kill bluebirds and their young when competing for nesting sites. Both starlings and house sparrows were introduced by the unwitting hand of people. I don't allow either of these species to nest in any box on my bluebird trail. I have seen first hand the devastation they cause to native species. I discuss them here only as a means of identification .