Mountain Bluebirds in Nevada
When mountain bluebirds are present in Nevada, when they nest, which native Nevada plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–10a yard.
- Status in Nevada
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
- Nest box
- 1 9/16 in hole, 5 × 5 in floor, 5–10 ft
When to expect mountain bluebirds in Nevada
Mountain Bluebirds live in Nevada all year. Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward juniper berries.
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Nesting in Nevada
Across Nevada, mountain bluebirds typically nest from May–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.
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — 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 Nevada plants that attract mountain bluebirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover mountain bluebirds use:
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Feeding mountain bluebirds through the Nevada year
Nests at high elevations in open country; takes nest boxes on fence lines.
- Best foods: Mealworms.
- In Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.
Full diet breakdown for mountain bluebirds · Best feeder for mountain bluebirds
Frequently asked
Are mountain bluebirds in Nevada year-round?
Yes. Mountain Bluebirds are year-round residents in Nevada.
When do mountain bluebirds nest in Nevada?
Nesting in Nevada typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–8 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days.
What native plants attract mountain bluebirds in Nevada?
Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Golden currant, Western serviceberry are native plants in Nevada 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 Nevada
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 — Nevada
- 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.