WhenToBird

2 bluebird species in North Dakota

When Do Bluebirds Arrive in North Dakota?

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 North Dakota. Eastern Bluebirds reach North Dakota in late March, are common by late April, peak in late June (3.3% of checklists), and most are gone by late October.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakJun 22-30late June
Most gone byOct 22-31late October

Best: late June. First arrivals late March; most are gone by late October. Peak: on about 3.3% of North Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Bluebirds in North Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Eastern BluebirdMar 22-31Apr 22-30Jun 22-30Oct 22-313.3%
Mountain BluebirdMar 8-14Mar 8-14Jun 22-30Oct 8-142.2%
0%1%2%3%4%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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota

Best counties for Eastern Bluebird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Ransom CountyBest early October · 48 checklists that week, 1,920 in all22%
  2. McLean CountyBest the second week of October · 24 checklists that week, 1,933 in all16%
  3. Sioux CountyBest mid September · 10 checklists that week, 340 in all15%
  4. Traill CountyBest the second week of June · 15 checklists that week, 764 in all15%
  5. Grant CountyBest late June · 27 checklists that week, 605 in all15%
  6. Dunn CountyBest the second week of September · 16 checklists that week, 661 in all14%

Common questions

When do bluebirds arrive in North Dakota?
Eastern Bluebirds reach North Dakota in late March, are common by late April, peak in late June (3.3% of checklists), and most are gone by late October.
When do bluebirds leave North Dakota?
Most Eastern Bluebirds have left North Dakota by late October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.
When is the best time to see bluebirds in North Dakota?
The Eastern Bluebird is reported most often in late June, on about 3.3% of North Dakota checklists.
Which bluebirds are in North Dakota?
Eastern Bluebird and Mountain Bluebird are reported regularly; the Eastern Bluebird is the most common.