WhenToBird

2 bluebird species in South Dakota

When Do Bluebirds Arrive in South Dakota?

Adult male Mountain Bluebird
Photo: Josiah Londerée, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Mountain Bluebirds and Eastern Bluebirds are the bluebirds you are most likely to see in South Dakota. Mountain Bluebirds reach South Dakota in early March, are common by early May, peak in the second week of June (7.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakJun 8-14the second week of June
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: the second week of June. First arrivals early March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 7.3% of South Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Bluebirds in South Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Mountain BluebirdMar 1-7May 1-7Jun 8-14Oct 1-77.3%
Eastern BluebirdMar 8-14Mar 8-14May 22-31Nov 8-143.7%
0%2%4%6%8%Mountain BluebirdEastern BluebirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Mountain Bluebird
  • 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 South 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 South Dakota

Best counties for Mountain Bluebird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Jackson CountyBest early March · 11 checklists that week, 3,039 in all37%
  2. Fall River CountyBest the second week of May · 241 checklists that week, 3,040 in all28%
  3. Custer CountyBest the second week of April · 33 checklists that week, 7,902 in all24%
  4. Butte CountyBest late March · 21 checklists that week, 987 in all13%
  5. Oglala Lakota CountyBest early June · 42 checklists that week, 214 in all13%
  6. Lawrence CountyBest mid March · 19 checklists that week, 3,847 in all10%

Common questions

When do bluebirds arrive in South Dakota?
Mountain Bluebirds reach South Dakota in early March, are common by early May, peak in the second week of June (7.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do bluebirds leave South Dakota?
Most Mountain Bluebirds have left South Dakota by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see bluebirds in South Dakota?
The Mountain Bluebird is reported most often in the second week of June, on about 7.3% of South Dakota checklists.
Which bluebirds are in South Dakota?
Mountain Bluebird and Eastern Bluebird are reported regularly; the Mountain Bluebird is the most common.