Brighten Your Backyard with One of America’s Favorite Birds
February is National Bird Feeding Month, and there’s no better feathered ambassador for the celebration than the Eastern Bluebird. With vivid colors, gentle personalities, and strong family ties, Eastern Bluebirds can turn any backyard into a cheerful nature retreat. Whether you’re already a bluebird fan or dreaming of your first nest box visitor, this guide will help you welcome them this month and beyond.
1) Where Are Eastern Bluebirds Found in the U.S.?
The Eastern Bluebird’s range covers—well—just what it sounds like: the eastern half of the United States. You’ll find these charming birds across the Midwest, the East Coast, much of the South, parts of the Plains, and even southern Canada during breeding season. They thrive in open areas with scattered trees—think pastures, orchards, meadows, large yards, golf courses, and parks. If you’ve got open space and a bit of habitat variety, you live in bluebird country.
2) What Do Eastern Bluebirds Eat?
Eastern Bluebirds are not picky… but they are particular. Their natural diet includes insects like beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars, plus seasonal berries such as dogwood, holly, and pokeweed. At backyard feeders, their favorite foods include:
- Live mealworms (their absolute favorite!)
- Dried mealworms
- Suet (no-melt varieties or soft suet nuggets)
- Sunflower chips (hulled sunflower pieces)
This high-protein, high-energy menu helps them stay warm in winter and gives parents extra fuel during nesting season.
3) What Types of Feeders Do Eastern Bluebirds Use?
While they won’t usually visit traditional seed feeders, bluebirds love feeders designed for their dining style. Popular options include:
Mealworm Cup or Dish Feeders
Perfect for live or dried mealworms, these keep food contained and make it easy for bluebirds to swoop in, grab a bite, and perch comfortably.
Bluebird-Only Feeders (a.k.a. “Exclusion Feeders”)
These clever feeders use small entry holes or cages that allow bluebirds in but keep larger, more aggressive birds—like starlings and grackles—out. Since bluebirds are polite little diners, these feeders ensure they get the mealworms they came for.
Suet Nuggets or Suet Cups
Many bluebirds happily visit a suet cup feeder or platform feeder with soft suet nuggets—especially during colder months.
4) How Eastern Bluebirds Nest and Raise Their Young
Eastern Bluebirds are cavity nesters, meaning they naturally use old woodpecker holes or tree cavities. These days, they rely heavily on nest boxes, which makes backyard bluebird housing especially important.
- Early Nesters: Bluebirds start house-hunting as early as February in warmer regions—perfect timing for National Bird Feeding Month.
- Meticulous Builders: Females build the nest from pine needles, grasses, and other soft materials, crafting a tidy, cup-shaped home.
- Family-Focused Parents: A typical clutch has 4–5 eggs. Both parents help feed the nestlings, taking turns delivering mealworms like tiny, feathery waiters.
- Extended Family Help: Older siblings sometimes help raise the next brood—an especially heartwarming (and rare) behavior among backyard birds.
5) Why People Love Attracting Eastern Bluebirds
If you’ve ever had bluebirds nest in your yard, you already know: they’re magical. They’re gentle, peaceful visitors—no seed-slinging or feeder-fighting. Their colors are breathtaking—electric blue and warm chestnut hues. They bring multiple generations back year after year. And watching them raise chicks is deeply rewarding for adults and kids alike. When you attract bluebirds, you’re not just getting a single bird—you’re welcoming a family.
6) The Importance of Nest Boxes
Bluebird populations recovered dramatically thanks to nest boxes placed by people who care. You can be part of this conservation success story.
- A 1.5-inch entrance hole
- Proper ventilation and drainage
- Predator guards to deter raccoons and snakes
- A swing-open door for easy monitoring and cleaning
Bluebirds remember great housing. Once they find a safe, well-placed nest box, they often return year after year.
7) The Best Foods for Attracting Eastern Bluebirds
Here are the top foods to win over bluebirds:
- 🐛 Live Mealworms — the gold standard; irresistible and high-protein.
- 🐛 Dried Mealworms — convenient, economical, and shelf-stable.
- 🧈 Suet & Suet Nuggets — excellent cold-weather energy and ideal for busy parents.
- 🌻 Sunflower Chips — hulled sunflower pieces they can eat without cracking shells.
8) Choose Feeders That Keep Larger Birds Out
Bluebirds are like the polite guests at the buffet—happy to wait their turn. To give them their fair share, use feeders that favor smaller birds:
- Caged feeders with small openings
- Enclosed mealworm feeders with small entry holes
- Avoid wide, open platform feeders if starlings or grackles dominate your yard
9) Fun Facts About Eastern Bluebirds
- They can have 2–3 broods per year in many regions.
- Males use a soft-wing wave to court females—like a feathery hello.
- Their feathers aren’t blue due to pigment—the color comes from light scattering.
- Bluebirds have long symbolized happiness and hope in American folklore.
- They sing a mix of soft warbles and chatters, especially during nesting season.
10) Make This the Month You Welcome Bluebirds Home
National Bird Feeding Month is the perfect time to start—or expand—your bluebird setup. With the right nest box, a bluebird-friendly feeder, and a steady supply of mealworms or suet, your yard could soon be filled with flashes of blue and warm, cheerful song.
Whether you’re looking for feeders, houses, foods, predator guards, or complete bluebird kits, JCS Wildlife has everything you need to help these beautiful birds thrive.
Find JCS Wildlife Bluebird Nesting Boxes here!
Offer your Bluebirds some suet here!
