Eastern Bluebirds in Alabama

Eastern Bluebirds live in Alabama all year. Freezes are short and snow is rare; feeder traffic peaks as goldfinches, siskins and sparrows arrive from the north. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward dogwood, sumac, holly, juniper and hackberry fruit; mealworms offered at feeders.

Humid subtropical, with Gulf-influenced warmth in Mobile and Baldwin counties and cooler Appalachian foothills in the northeast.

Across Alabama, bluebirds typically nest from March–August. Nest site: secondary cavity nester — old woodpecker holes and nest boxes in open habitat. Females lay 2–7 eggs, incubate for 11–19 days, and young leave the nest after 15–20 days.

Long, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms — ventilated boxes and daily-refreshed water matter.

• Have boxes cleaned and mounted before February — bluebirds begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
• Use a 1 1/2 in round (1 9/16 in for Mountain/Western overlap) entrance on a 5 × 5 in floor, mounted 4–6 ft on a baffled pole.
• Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
• Clean out old nests after each brood and again after August.

Of the regional native plants we track for Alabama, these 8 provide food or cover bluebirds use:

Bluebirds hunt from perches over short grass. Put mealworm feeders in the open, near a low perch, and offer small amounts at the same time each day.

• Best foods: Live or dried mealworms, Suet nuggets / insect-suet dough, Chopped native fruit.
• Avoid: Loose seed mixes — bluebirds rarely eat seed.
• In Alabama's winter: Freezes are short and snow is rare; feeder traffic peaks as goldfinches, siskins and sparrows arrive from the north.

Full diet breakdown for bluebirds · Best feeder for bluebirds