WhenToBird

2 bluebird species in Idaho

When Do Bluebirds Arrive in Idaho?

Adult male Mountain Bluebird
Photo: Josiah Londerée, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Mountain Bluebirds and Western Bluebirds are the bluebirds you are most likely to see in Idaho. Mountain Bluebirds reach Idaho in the second week of March, are common by mid March, peak in mid June (5.6% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 8-14the second week of March
Common byMar 15-21mid March
PeakJun 15-21mid June
Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: mid June. First arrivals the second week of March; most are gone by the second week of October. Peak: on about 5.6% of Idaho checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Bluebirds in Idaho, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Mountain BluebirdMar 8-14Mar 15-21Jun 15-21Oct 8-145.6%
Western BluebirdMar 1-7Mar 1-7Apr 15-21Aug 8-142.1%
0%2%4%6%Mountain BluebirdWestern BluebirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Mountain Bluebird
  • Western 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 Idaho 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 Idaho

Best counties for Mountain Bluebird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Butte CountyBest the second week of April · 11 checklists that week, 1,276 in all45%
  2. Custer CountyBest the second week of April · 39 checklists that week, 3,853 in all26%
  3. Valley CountyBest the second week of April · 180 checklists that week, 8,991 in all22%
  4. Fremont CountyBest the second week of May · 136 checklists that week, 5,201 in all19%
  5. Cassia CountyBest early June · 426 checklists that week, 9,223 in all19%
  6. Elmore CountyBest early June · 276 checklists that week, 6,239 in all19%

Common questions

When do bluebirds arrive in Idaho?
Mountain Bluebirds reach Idaho in the second week of March, are common by mid March, peak in mid June (5.6% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.
When do bluebirds leave Idaho?
Most Mountain Bluebirds have left Idaho by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.
When is the best time to see bluebirds in Idaho?
The Mountain Bluebird is reported most often in mid June, on about 5.6% of Idaho checklists.
Which bluebirds are in Idaho?
Mountain Bluebird and Western Bluebird are reported regularly; the Mountain Bluebird is the most common.