How to attract mountain bluebirds to your yard
Mountain Bluebirds respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 23 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. The Mountain Bluebird is a year-round resident in 5 states and provinces, including Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah — there, a yard can host it in every season. It arrives only to breed in 15, such as Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Manitoba and 9 more, so set up before spring arrival. It is a winter visitor in 3, including Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, where feeders and winter fruit matter most.
Plant what mountain bluebirds use
These native plants are tied to the Mountain Bluebird in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth sumac Rhus glabra | Shrub | 20 | Red fruit heads hang on through winter. |
| Red-osier dogwood Cornus sericea | Shrub | 16 | White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover. |
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Shrub | 15 | Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 15 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
| Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum | Tree | 11 | Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter. |
| Paper birch Betula papyrifera | Tree | 10 | Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter. |
| Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | Tree | 9 | Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. |
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 8 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 7 | Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. |
| Highbush cranberry Viburnum trilobum | Shrub | 7 | Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone. |
Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, perennial, tree). Layering matters: mixing shrub, perennial, tree gives mountain bluebirds food, perches and cover at different heights. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Insects caught by hover-hunting; berries in winter.
- Warm months
- Grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars
- Cold months
- Juniper berries
- At feeders
- Mealworms
Feeder style matters as much as food: dish or cup feeder for mealworms / fruit is the first choice for this bird. Nests at high elevations in open country; takes nest boxes on fence lines. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Cavity or nest box.
The Mountain Bluebird uses nest boxes with a 1 9/16 in entrance, mounted 5–10 ft. Exact box dimensions →
- Clutch
- 4–8 eggs
- Incubation
- 13–14 days
- Nestling period
- 17–21 days
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around April in Arizona but not until June in Yukon. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; residents usually find a stocked yard first.
Frequently asked
What attracts mountain bluebirds to a yard?
Food they actually eat (mealworms), native plants such as Smooth sumac, Red-osier dogwood, Chokecherry, clean water and suitable nesting cover: cavity or nest box.
What plants attract mountain bluebirds?
Across the Mountain Bluebird's range, the native plants most often tied to it are Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima), Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting mountain bluebirds?
Nesting starts around April in Arizona and as late as June in Yukon. Have cover, water and nest boxes ready a month before.
Sources
- Mountain Bluebird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mountain Bluebird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mountain Bluebird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.