WhenToBird

Eastern Bluebird · Sialia sialis

When Do Bluebirds Arrive in Iowa?

Adult male Eastern Bluebird
Photo: Dan Vickers, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

The Eastern Bluebird is in Iowa all year. It turns up on about 19% of checklists at its peak (mid October) and on 4.6% in its quietest week (mid January). They are the only regular bluebirds in Iowa.

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekOct 15-21mid October
Quietest weekJan 15-21mid January

Best: mid October. Here all year. Peak: on about 19% of Iowa checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Bluebirds in Iowa, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Eastern Bluebirdall year–Oct 15-21–19%
0%5%10%15%20%Eastern BluebirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Eastern 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 Iowa 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 Iowa

Best counties for Eastern Bluebird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Union CountyBest mid October · 23 checklists that week, 1,133 in all52%
  2. Cass CountyBest early May · 15 checklists that week, 449 in all48%
  3. Clarke CountyBest the second week of March · 13 checklists that week, 459 in all48%
  4. Greene CountyBest the second week of September · 27 checklists that week, 2,565 in all42%
  5. Page CountyBest the second week of April · 12 checklists that week, 230 in all42%
  6. Fayette CountyBest the second week of October · 29 checklists that week, 1,130 in all41%

Common questions

When do bluebirds arrive in Iowa?
The Eastern Bluebird is in Iowa all year. It turns up on about 19% of checklists at its peak (mid October) and on 4.6% in its quietest week (mid January). They are the only regular bluebirds in Iowa.
When do bluebirds leave Iowa?
The Eastern Bluebird does not leave Iowa: it is reported all year, from 4.6% of checklists in mid January to 19% in mid October.
When is the best time to see bluebirds in Iowa?
The Eastern Bluebird is reported most often in mid October, on about 19% of Iowa checklists.