When do bluebirds leave Montana?

Most Mountain Bluebirds have left Montana by early 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 Montana?

The Mountain Bluebird is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 8.7% of Montana checklists.

Which bluebirds are in Montana?

Mountain Bluebird and Western Bluebird are reported regularly; the Mountain Bluebird is the most common.

2 bluebird species in Montana

When Do Bluebirds Arrive in Montana?

Photo: Josiah Londerée, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Mountain Bluebirds and Western Bluebirds are the bluebirds you are most likely to see in Montana. Mountain Bluebirds reach Montana in early March, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of April (8.7% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March

Common byMar 8-14the second week of March

PeakApr 8-14the second week of April

Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: the second week of April. First arrivals early March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 8.7% of Montana checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febrare
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Bluebirds in Montana, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Mountain Bluebird	Mar 1-7	Mar 8-14	Apr 8-14	Oct 1-7	8.7%
Western Bluebird	Mar 1-7	Mar 1-7	Apr 8-14	Oct 15-21	3.1%

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 Montana 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 Montana

Best counties for Mountain Bluebird

Share of checklists at the peak

Jefferson CountyBest early May · 383 checklists that week, 14,859 in all41%
Dawson CountyBest the second week of August · 17 checklists that week, 743 in all38%
Madison CountyBest mid May · 210 checklists that week, 7,008 in all30%
Musselshell CountyBest early April · 14 checklists that week, 961 in all27%
Big Horn CountyBest the second week of March · 14 checklists that week, 1,279 in all26%
Broadwater CountyBest early April · 47 checklists that week, 2,470 in all26%

Common questions

When do bluebirds arrive in Montana?: Mountain Bluebirds reach Montana in early March, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of April (8.7% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do bluebirds leave Montana?: Most Mountain Bluebirds have left Montana by early 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 Montana?: The Mountain Bluebird is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 8.7% of Montana checklists.
Which bluebirds are in Montana?: Mountain Bluebird and Western Bluebird are reported regularly; the Mountain Bluebird is the most common.