WhenToBird

2 bluebird species in California

When Do Bluebirds Arrive in California?

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

The Western Bluebird is in California all year. It turns up on about 20% of checklists at its peak (late March) and on 13% in its quietest week (the second week of August). They are by far the most reported bluebirds in California.

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekMar 22-31late March
Quietest weekAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: late March. Here all year. Peak: on about 20% of California checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Bluebirds in California, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Western Bluebirdall year–Mar 22-31–20%
Mountain BluebirdMay 15-21May 15-21Jun 22-30Aug 22-311.1%
0%10%20%30%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 California 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 California

Best counties for Western Bluebird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Nevada CountyBest early February · 334 checklists that week, 25,896 in all43%
  2. Napa CountyBest mid March · 304 checklists that week, 18,976 in all43%
  3. Amador CountyBest late February · 66 checklists that week, 4,733 in all41%
  4. Placer CountyBest early November · 674 checklists that week, 43,945 in all41%
  5. Tuolumne CountyBest early November · 294 checklists that week, 21,159 in all36%
  6. El Dorado CountyBest the second week of March · 326 checklists that week, 25,075 in all35%

Common questions

When do bluebirds arrive in California?
The Western Bluebird is in California all year. It turns up on about 20% of checklists at its peak (late March) and on 13% in its quietest week (the second week of August). They are by far the most reported bluebirds in California.
When do bluebirds leave California?
The Western Bluebird does not leave California: it is reported all year, from 13% of checklists in the second week of August to 20% in late March.
When is the best time to see bluebirds in California?
The Western Bluebird is reported most often in late March, on about 20% of California checklists.
Which bluebirds are in California?
Western Bluebird and Mountain Bluebird are reported regularly; the Western Bluebird is the most common.