Nest Cup Guide

Sparrow Proof

Our House Martin Nest Cups have an entrance depth of 2cm which is too small for sparrows.
However often the eaves on houses are not completly straight which could increase this depth so we add a short roof called a sparrow topper.

‘Sparrow proof topper’

A sparrow-topper roof is NOT for weather protection, only to keep the nest opening at 2 cm when the eaves don’t allow the cup to sit flush.

It is a wooden roof with minimal overhang which can also be used for fixing

If you haven’t got overhanging eaves of around 20cm please order one of our false eave combinations in either wood or UPVC.

Nest Cup Options

A little guide to help you buy the right cups!

triple house martin nest cup by nest cup box (3)

Roof Type

Deep eaves where you plan to fit them?
Eaves that are 20cm or deeper mean that you don’t have to have a protective roof above your cups. A sparrow-topper roof is recommended to ensure the opening remains at 2cm. However it is not for weather protection; it’s small and designed only to keep the nest opening at 2 cm when the eaves don’t allow the cup to sit flush

Shallow or no eaves?
If your eaves are less than 20cm in depth choose one of our false eaves options

Sparrows are a problem?
If you have a problem with sparrows taking over House Martin cups ensure that you select a cup with a false eave or a sparrow prevention topper roof to ensure the opening remains at 2cm

A sparrow-topper roof is not for weather protection; it’s small and designed only to keep the nest opening at 2 cm when the eaves don’t allow the cup to sit flush

5 cup apex house martin cup made to measure by nest cup box (2)

Single, Double, Triple or Apex

We make lots of different options

Single
Just one cup! then choose which way you want the entrance to face

Double (most popular)
Two cups together, then choose which way the entrances should face and which roof

Triple ( three in a row )
Three cups together, then choose which way the entrances should face and which roof

Apex
One, three or five cups arranged to fit to the apex (point) of a roof. These cups are made to measure. We will requst a photograph of the apex so we can measure the angle or if you can privide us with the angle or pitch of the roof we can work from that

Made to measure angled cups
If none of the above options will fit we can make them to fit different angles, just drop us an email

single house martin cups with different entrance positions from nest cup box

Entrance position

The last option you have is to choose the entrance position!

If you have ordered false eaves, due to the fact that they have side panels you will not be able to order side facing cups as access would be restricted

6

Where should I put my cups?

House Martin Conservation UK and Ireland are the experts!

Pop over to their website for more information on the positioning of your nest cups

Explore our full range of products here

Pop to our shop and have a look!

Useful links

Get some really useful information from the following websites

hmcuk logo2

The House Martin’s best friend!

House Marin Conservation UK & Ireland

A brilliant source of information about House Martins and how we can all help to reverse their decline

screenshot 2025 02 28 211757

Action for Swifts

A really informative site

screenshot 2025 02 28 212124

Swift Conservation

Keeping the skies alive