WhenToBird

2 bluebird species in Nebraska

When Do Bluebirds Arrive in Nebraska?

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

Eastern Bluebirds and Mountain Bluebirds are the bluebirds you are most likely to see in Nebraska. The Eastern Bluebird is in Nebraska all year. It turns up on about 8.4% of checklists at its peak (mid October) and on 3.4% in its quietest week (mid January).

When to look

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

Best: mid October. Here all year. Peak: on about 8.4% of Nebraska checklists.

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

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

Bluebirds in Nebraska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Eastern Bluebirdall year–Oct 15-21–8.4%
Mountain BluebirdApr 22-30Apr 22-30Jun 15-21Dec 22-311.1%
0%5%10%Eastern BluebirdMountain BluebirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Eastern 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska

Best counties for Eastern Bluebird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Keya Paha CountyBest mid October · 36 checklists that week, 455 in all56%
  2. Jefferson CountyBest late July · 26 checklists that week, 804 in all46%
  3. Johnson CountyBest late May · 16 checklists that week, 429 in all42%
  4. Cass CountyBest early August · 39 checklists that week, 4,466 in all36%
  5. Nemaha CountyBest mid September · 12 checklists that week, 883 in all36%
  6. Washington CountyBest mid September · 20 checklists that week, 3,482 in all36%

Common questions

When do bluebirds arrive in Nebraska?
The Eastern Bluebird is in Nebraska all year. It turns up on about 8.4% of checklists at its peak (mid October) and on 3.4% in its quietest week (mid January).
When do bluebirds leave Nebraska?
The Eastern Bluebird does not leave Nebraska: it is reported all year, from 3.4% of checklists in mid January to 8.4% in mid October.
When is the best time to see bluebirds in Nebraska?
The Eastern Bluebird is reported most often in mid October, on about 8.4% of Nebraska checklists.
Which bluebirds are in Nebraska?
Eastern Bluebird and Mountain Bluebird are reported regularly; the Eastern Bluebird is the most common.