How to attract western bluebirds to your yard
Western 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 12 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 Western Bluebird is a year-round resident in 6 states and provinces, including Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah — there, a yard can host it in every season. It arrives only to breed in 5, such as British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington, so set up before spring arrival. It is a winter visitor in 1, including Texas, where feeders and winter fruit matter most.
Plant what western bluebirds use
These native plants are tied to the Western 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Shrub | 11 | Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. |
| Red-osier dogwood Cornus sericea | Shrub | 11 | White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover. |
| Smooth sumac Rhus glabra | Shrub | 11 | Red fruit heads hang on through winter. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 10 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
| Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum | Tree | 9 | Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter. |
| Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa | Tree | 6 | Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat. |
| Highbush cranberry Viburnum trilobum | Shrub | 5 | Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone. |
| Paper birch Betula papyrifera | Tree | 5 | Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter. |
| Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Vine | 4 | Blue fruit on red stems in early fall. |
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 2 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
Your list covers 4 plant layers (shrub, perennial, tree, vine). Layering matters: mixing shrub, perennial, tree, vine gives western 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 in summer; berries in winter.
- Warm months
- Beetles and grasshoppers
- Cold months
- Mistletoe, juniper and elderberry
- At feeders
- Mealworms, Suet nuggets
Feeder style matters as much as food: dish or cup feeder for mealworms / fruit is the first choice for this bird. Uses 1 1/2 in nest boxes in open oak and pine woodland; boxes have helped recovery in the Pacific Northwest. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Cavity or nest box.
The Western Bluebird uses nest boxes with a 1 1/2 in entrance, mounted 5–10 ft. Exact box dimensions →
- Clutch
- 2–8 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–17 days
- Nestling period
- 19–25 days
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around March in Arizona but not until May in Montana. 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 western bluebirds to a yard?
Food they actually eat (mealworms, suet nuggets), native plants such as Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Smooth sumac, clean water and suitable nesting cover: cavity or nest box.
What plants attract western bluebirds?
Across the Western Bluebird's range, the native plants most often tied to it are Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), 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 western bluebirds?
Nesting starts around March in Arizona and as late as May in Montana. Have cover, water and nest boxes ready a month before.
Sources
- Western Bluebird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Western Bluebird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Western 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.