Mountain Bluebirds in Alaska
When mountain bluebirds are present in Alaska, when they nest, which native Alaska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 1a–8a yard.
- Status in Alaska
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1a–8a
- Nest box
- 1 9/16 in hole, 5 × 5 in floor, 5–10 ft
When to expect mountain bluebirds in Alaska
Mountain Bluebirds are summer residents in Alaska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars.
Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.
Nesting in Alaska
Across Alaska, mountain bluebirds typically nest from June–July. Nest site: cavity or nest box. Females lay 4–8 eggs, incubate for 13–14 days, and young leave the nest after 17–21 days.
A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before May — mountain bluebirds begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 1 9/16 in entrance on a 5 × 5 in floor, mounted 5–10 ft.
- 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.
Native Alaska plants that attract mountain bluebirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Alaska, these 8 provide food or cover mountain bluebirds use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Dark berries and evergreen understory cover.
Spring flowers for Rufous Hummingbirds, early fruit for thrushes.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding mountain bluebirds through the Alaska year
Nests at high elevations in open country; takes nest boxes on fence lines.
- Best foods: Mealworms.
- In Alaska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for mountain bluebirds · Best feeder for mountain bluebirds
Frequently asked
Are mountain bluebirds in Alaska year-round?
No. Mountain Bluebirds are summer breeders in Alaska and leave for the winter.
When do mountain bluebirds nest in Alaska?
Nesting in Alaska typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–8 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days.
What native plants attract mountain bluebirds in Alaska?
Paper birch, Red-osier dogwood, Western serviceberry, Salal, Salmonberry, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Alaska that provide food or cover for mountain bluebirds.
What size birdhouse hole do mountain bluebirds need?
1 9/16 in, with a floor of 5 × 5 in mounted 5–10 ft.
Mountain Bluebirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alaska
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
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alaska
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.