Eastern Bluebirds in Ontario
When bluebirds are present in Ontario, when they nest, which native Ontario plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canadian zones 0a–7a yard.
- Status in Ontario
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 1–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6)
- Nest box
- 1 1/2 in round (1 9/16 in for Mountain/Western overlap) hole, 5 × 5 in floor, 4–6 ft on a baffled pole
When to expect bluebirds in Ontario
Eastern Bluebirds are summer residents in Ontario, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers, crickets and beetles; caterpillars and spiders.
Humid continental in the south, boreal and subarctic in the north; most backyard birding happens in the southern Great Lakes lowlands.
Nesting in Ontario
Across Ontario, bluebirds typically nest from May–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.
Short, warm summers; Point Pelee and Long Point are continent-famous migration sites.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — 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.
Native Ontario plants that attract bluebirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Ontario, these 8 provide food or cover bluebirds use:
Early-summer fruit.
Fruit and cover.
Insects, seeds and cavities.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Feeding bluebirds through the Ontario year
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 Ontario's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for bluebirds · Best feeder for bluebirds
Frequently asked
Are bluebirds in Ontario year-round?
No. Eastern Bluebirds are summer breeders in Ontario and leave for the winter.
When do bluebirds nest in Ontario?
Nesting in Ontario typically runs May–August, with 1–3 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 11–19 days.
What native plants attract bluebirds in Ontario?
Serviceberry, Red-osier dogwood, Sugar maple, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac are native plants in Ontario that provide food or cover for bluebirds.
What size birdhouse hole do bluebirds need?
1 1/2 in round (1 9/16 in for Mountain/Western overlap), with a floor of 5 × 5 in mounted 4–6 ft on a baffled pole.
Eastern Bluebirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Ontario
Sources
- Eastern Bluebird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Bluebird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Bluebird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Ontario
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas — Birds Canada
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.