WhenToBird

2 bluebird species in Arizona

When Do Bluebirds Arrive in Arizona?

Adult male Western Bluebird
Photo: sprcrkwild, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Western Bluebirds are in Arizona all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from late October, peak in mid December (12% of checklists), and fall back by late February. In the quietest week (the second week of April) they are still on about 3.6% of checklists. They are by far the most reported bluebirds in Arizona.

When to look

Numbers buildOct 22-31late October
PeakDec 15-21mid December
Fall back byFeb 22-28late February
FewestApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: mid December. Here all year; numbers build from late October and fall back by late February. Peak: on about 12% of Arizona checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marcommon
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Bluebirds in Arizona, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Western BluebirdOct 22-31Oct 22-31Dec 15-21Feb 22-2812%
Mountain BluebirdAug 15-21Aug 15-21Jan 8-14Mar 15-211.3%
0%5%10%15%Western BluebirdMountain BluebirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Western Bluebird
  • Mountain Bluebird
Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Arizona that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Arizona

Best counties for Western Bluebird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Coconino CountyBest early October · 1959 checklists that week, 90,870 in all39%
  2. Yavapai CountyBest the second week of November · 1308 checklists that week, 83,606 in all37%
  3. Greenlee CountyBest mid November · 12 checklists that week, 2,745 in all33%
  4. Apache CountyBest the second week of January · 113 checklists that week, 12,931 in all26%
  5. Gila CountyBest late November · 261 checklists that week, 14,834 in all25%
  6. Navajo CountyBest late October · 297 checklists that week, 18,838 in all24%

Common questions

When do bluebirds arrive in Arizona?
Western Bluebirds are in Arizona all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from late October, peak in mid December (12% of checklists), and fall back by late February. In the quietest week (the second week of April) they are still on about 3.6% of checklists. They are by far the most reported bluebirds in Arizona.
When do bluebirds leave Arizona?
Western Bluebirds never fully leave Arizona: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late February, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.6% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see bluebirds in Arizona?
The Western Bluebird is reported most often in mid December, on about 12% of Arizona checklists.
Which bluebirds are in Arizona?
Western Bluebird and Mountain Bluebird are reported regularly; the Western Bluebird is the most common.