WhenToBird

2 bluebird species in Washington

When Do Bluebirds Arrive in Washington?

Adult male Western Bluebird
Photo: sprcrkwild, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Western Bluebirds and Mountain Bluebirds are the bluebirds you are most likely to see in Washington. Western Bluebirds arrive in Washington in early March, peak in early June (2.4% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMar 1-7early March
PeakJun 1-7early June
Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: early June. First arrivals early March; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 2.4% of Washington checklists.

  1. Janrare
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decrare

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

Bluebirds in Washington, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Western BluebirdMar 1-7Mar 1-7Jun 1-7Oct 15-212.4%
Mountain BluebirdMar 8-14Mar 8-14Apr 1-7Aug 1-71.4%
0%1%2%3%Western BluebirdMountain BluebirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Western 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 Washington 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 Washington

Best counties for Western Bluebird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Ferry CountyBest mid April · 111 checklists that week, 5,106 in all38%
  2. Klickitat CountyBest early October · 308 checklists that week, 19,718 in all30%
  3. Stevens CountyBest mid March · 149 checklists that week, 7,596 in all23%
  4. Spokane CountyBest late March · 1259 checklists that week, 43,379 in all15%
  5. Okanogan CountyBest late April · 485 checklists that week, 23,048 in all14%
  6. Garfield CountyBest the second week of July · 16 checklists that week, 1,130 in all11%

Common questions

When do bluebirds arrive in Washington?
Western Bluebirds arrive in Washington in early March, peak in early June (2.4% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.
When do bluebirds leave Washington?
Most Western Bluebirds have left Washington by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see bluebirds in Washington?
The Western Bluebird is reported most often in early June, on about 2.4% of Washington checklists.
Which bluebirds are in Washington?
Western Bluebird and Mountain Bluebird are reported regularly; the Western Bluebird is the most common.