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 Tits are regularly seen hammering away at the entrance hole of a nestbox. This is probably a form of display by the male, rather than an attempt to enlarge the hole.
Later, the female will also peck vigorously: natural holes may have all the surrounding bark chipped away. This may help her to judge how soft the wood is and whether the hole will provide a safe, predator-proof home in which to raise her brood. Blue and great tits will also hammer at the inside of a box or nest hole, perhaps as a form of display.
Nuthatches leave tell-tale signs of their residence in a nestbox. They peck at the entrance hole of a nestbox deliberately enlarging it. They will then plaster the edges of the hole with mud, making the hole a perfect fit for their bodies.
Pied flycatchers are fast nest builders. They have been known to take over a nestbox in use by another bird, and build its own nest and lay eggs on top of a fresh clutch - or even live chicks - within days.
Many birds roost in nestboxes, especially during a cold winter night. These roosts are frequently communal. The record number of birds found in one nestbox is 61 wrens.
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