Your Guide to Attracting the Beautiful Bluebird to Your Yard

There's something magical about spotting a flash of brilliant blue in your garden. The bluebird, with its vibrant color and gentle song, is one of North America's most beloved backyard visitors. Whether you're hoping to see the common Eastern Bluebird or its western cousins, attracting these feathered jewels can be a rewarding experience.

While they can sometimes be a bit shy, inviting bluebirds to your yard is easier than you think. It all comes down to providing three key things: the right food, a reliable water source, and a safe place to call home. Let's break it down.

1. The Bluebird Buffet: What to Serve

Unlike many birds that flock to traditional seed mixes, bluebirds have a more specific palate. If you want to make your yard the most popular spot on the block, here’s what to offer:

• Mealworms are a Must-Have: This is the absolute favorite for any blue bird. Live mealworms are irresistible, but dried ones are a great, convenient option, especially in winter. They are a high-protein treat that will have bluebirds returning again and again. Our smart bird feeder is perfect for serving up a portion of these tasty worms!
• Suet & Sunflower Hearts: High-energy suet is another excellent choice, especially during colder months. Bluebirds also enjoy hulled sunflower seeds (sometimes called "sunflower hearts" or "chips") because their beaks aren't strong enough to crack tough shells.
• Go Natural with Plants: Plant native berry-producing shrubs and trees. Bluebirds love the fruit from dogwood, holly, juniper, and elderberry plants. It's a beautiful, low-maintenance way to provide a natural food source through the winter.(More details about native plants.)

2. The Best Bird Bath in Town

Never underestimate the power of water! A clean, reliable water source for drinking and bathing is a huge attractant for all birds, and bluebirds are no exception.

For a simple setup, a shallow birdbath will do the trick. If you want to go the extra mile, bluebirds are drawn to the sound and sight of moving water, so adding a small dripper or solar fountain can make your bath even more enticing.

Pro-Tip: In areas with freezing winters, a heated birdbath is a game-changer. It provides a vital, ice-free water source that will attract not just bluebirds, but a wide variety of other thirsty birds on the coldest days.

3. A Safe & Cozy Home

To make bluebirds feel truly welcome, they need a safe environment. This means providing both the right habitat and secure shelter.

• Open Spaces: Bluebirds are insect hunters. They love open, grassy areas where they can perch on a low branch or fence post and scan the ground for bugs. A tidy lawn (free of pesticides!) is ideal bluebird territory.
• The Perfect Nest Box: This is the single best way to encourage a bluebirdfamily to move in. When choosing or building a nest box, remember these key features:Entrance Hole: About 1.5 inches in diameter.No Perch: Perches make it easy for predators to access the nest.Placement: Mount the box on a pole (with a predator guard!) about 5 feet off the ground in an open area.Cleanliness: Clean the box out after each nesting season. Bluebirds may use it to roost in during the cold winter.
• Entrance Hole: About 1.5 inches in diameter.
• No Perch: Perches make it easy for predators to access the nest.
• Placement: Mount the box on a pole (with a predator guard!) about 5 feet off the ground in an open area.
• Cleanliness: Clean the box out after each nesting season. Bluebirds may use it to roost in during the cold winter.

A Few Final Tips for Success

• Ditch the Pesticides: Since bluebirds eat insects from your lawn, pesticides can be harmful to them.
• Keep Cats Indoors: Domestic cats are a major threat to songbirds, especially young fledglings.
• Be Patient: It may take some time for bluebirds to discover your welcoming yard. But once they do, they’ll often return year after year.

With a little effort, you can transform your yard into a sanctuary for these beautiful bluebirds. And when you finally see that first flash of blue at your feeder, our smart feeder will be there to capture the magical moment for you to enjoy forever.