WhenToBird

Eastern Bluebird · Sialia sialis

When Do Bluebirds Arrive in Maine?

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

Eastern Bluebirds are in Maine all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early February, peak in late March (15% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (mid August) they are still on about 5.8% of checklists. They are the only regular bluebirds in Maine.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 1-7early February
PeakMar 22-31late March
Fall back byMay 15-21mid May
FewestAug 15-21mid August

Best: late March. Here all year; numbers build from early February and fall back by mid May. Peak: on about 15% of Maine checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Bluebirds in Maine, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Eastern BluebirdFeb 1-7Feb 1-7Mar 22-31May 15-2115%
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 Maine 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 Maine

Best counties for Eastern Bluebird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. York CountyBest mid March · 1330 checklists that week, 101,844 in all27%
  2. Lincoln CountyBest the second week of April · 1034 checklists that week, 59,429 in all26%
  3. Cumberland CountyBest mid March · 3193 checklists that week, 169,501 in all26%
  4. Androscoggin CountyBest late February · 323 checklists that week, 16,955 in all16%
  5. Sagadahoc CountyBest late February · 283 checklists that week, 21,736 in all14%
  6. Knox CountyBest early April · 504 checklists that week, 34,453 in all14%

Common questions

When do bluebirds arrive in Maine?
Eastern Bluebirds are in Maine all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early February, peak in late March (15% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (mid August) they are still on about 5.8% of checklists. They are the only regular bluebirds in Maine.
When do bluebirds leave Maine?
Eastern Bluebirds never fully leave Maine: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.8% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see bluebirds in Maine?
The Eastern Bluebird is reported most often in late March, on about 15% of Maine checklists.