Kansas · Winter visitor

Mountain Bluebirds in Kansas

When mountain bluebirds are present in Kansas, when they nest, which native Kansas plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.

Thrushes (Turdidae)Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoides

Status in Kansas: Winter visitor
Nesting window: Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones: USDA 5b–7a

When to expect mountain bluebirds in Kansas

In Kansas, mountain bluebirds are winter visitors rather than breeders. Cold, dry winters with strong wind; windbreaks and evergreens are prime roost cover. While here they rely on juniper berries.

Continental — humid tallgrass Flint Hills in the east to semi-arid shortgrass prairie in the west.

Native Kansas plants that attract mountain bluebirds

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

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

Smooth sumac

Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Feeding mountain bluebirds through the Kansas year

Nests at high elevations in open country; takes nest boxes on fence lines.

Best foods: Mealworms.
In Kansas's winter: Cold, dry winters with strong wind; windbreaks and evergreens are prime roost cover.

Full diet breakdown for mountain bluebirds · Best feeder for mountain bluebirds

Frequently asked

Are mountain bluebirds in Kansas year-round?

No. Mountain Bluebirds are winter visitors in Kansas and do not typically nest there.

What native plants attract mountain bluebirds in Kansas?

Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Smooth sumac, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry are native plants in Kansas that provide food or cover for mountain bluebirds.

Mountain Bluebirds in other regions

Alaska Alberta Arizona British Columbia California Colorado Idaho Manitoba Montana Nebraska Nevada New Mexico North Dakota Oklahoma Oregon Saskatchewan South Dakota Texas Utah Washington Wyoming Yukon

Other backyard birds in Kansas

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Black-billed Magpie Spotted Towhee Say's Phoebe Ladder-backed Woodpecker White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove

Sources

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.