Eastern Bluebirds in Florida

Eastern Bluebirds live in Florida all year. Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October. 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 in the north to tropical in the Keys; a wet summer and a dry winter season.

Across Florida, bluebirds typically nest from March–July. 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.

Heat, humidity and summer storms: boxes need drainage holes, ventilation and shade, and nectar spoils fast.

• 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 July.

Of the regional native plants we track for Florida, 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 Florida's winter: Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October.

Full diet breakdown for bluebirds · Best feeder for bluebirds