Bird houses are man made homes built for different types of birds. Commonly birdhouses are created with wood and cardboard. Most bird houses have the same common shape, square with a hole for entry. More complex bird houses have larger designs that mimic human homes. Most bird houses are elevated on a wooden or metal rod making them more accessible to the different birds.

Other mammals and insects use bird houses to create their own habitats to live in. Some manufacturers create squirrel homes that are like bird houses because of the common habitat. Some insects like bees use the bird house to create a habitat for their colony and use the space to reproduce. A habitat for made for multiple types of animals is called a nest box, which is closely related to the birdhouse.

The bird house should be cleaned after a certain amount of time to clean it of any bacteria and parasites to help improved the health of its inhabitants. Cleaning should also take place after the breeding season and when there are no more young expected. After some time, a bird can be domesticated to the point where it will not breed unless there is a bird house present.