Bluebirds Are Picky: Here’s How to Finally Get Them to Move In
Every birder waits for this moment for that flash of electric blue cutting across the yard. The Eastern Bluebird is the crown jewel of the backyard, but let’s be honest—they are quite high-maintenance tenants.
If you’ve slapped a box on a tree and spent two years staring at it with no luck, you aren't alone. Bluebirds have a very specific wish list for their birdhouse, food, and neighbors.
I’ve pulled together the best advice—from habitat experts and field guides—to help you turn that vacancy sign into a happy home.
It Starts with the "Neighborhood"
Before you even buy a birdhouse, look at your landscape. Bluebirds are part of the thrush family (cousins to the Robin), which means they don't hide in deep forests. They hunt by perching on a post, spotting a bug in the grass, and dropping down to catch it.
The Hard Truth: If your yard is heavily wooded or small and enclosed, you probably won't get bluebirds. They need open space—meadows, large lawns, or fields.
The Chemical Rule: Because they eat bugs off the ground, a lawn treated with pesticides is basically a poisoned buffet. If you want bluebirds, you have to be okay with a chemical-free lawn (and a few extra bugs).
The Housing Setup (Please Don't Nail it to a Tree)
This is the most common mistake. Bluebirds are cavity nesters, but if you nail a box to a tree, you are creating a ladder for raccoons and cats.
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Mount it: Put the house on a metal pole about 5 feet high.
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Guard it: Install a stovepipe baffle on the pole. It looks like a metal cylinder and keeps snakes and squirrels from climbing up.
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Aim it: Face the hole East. This captures the morning sun to warm up the nest but keeps the chicks from baking in the hot afternoon sun.
Food: Insects in Summer, Berries in Winter
We usually think of mealworms as the way to a bluebird's heart (and they are), but landscaping is a better long-term strategy.
In the summer, they need protein (bugs). But in the winter, when the bugs die off, bluebirds that stay north survive on berries. If you plant native shrubs like Dogwood, Holly, Sumac, or Elderberry, you aren't just decorating your yard; you’re building a winter survival station.
Pro Tip: Don’t take your boxes down in the winter! Bluebirds will actually pile into nest boxes together on freezing nights to share body heat.
The Water Trick
Bluebirds are obsessed with moving water, All birds do. A still birdbath is fine, but they generally prefer shallow water. If you really want to grab their attention from the sky, add a solar fountain insert or a "dripper." The sound of splashing water is a magnet for them.
Know Your Tenants (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly)
Once you see straw in the box, don't celebrate just yet. You need to check the nest to see who moved in.
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The Bluebird: Neat cup of fine grass. Pale blue eggs. (The goal!)
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The Tree Swallow: Grass cup lined with feathers. These guys are actually great neighbors.
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The Chickadee: A cozy nest of moss and fur.
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The House Wren: The box will be stuffed to the brim with sticks. Wrens are aggressive, but they are native.
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The House Sparrow (The Enemy): A messy, domed nest of trash, cellophane, and straw.
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Real Talk: House Sparrows are invasive and will kill bluebirds to take the box. If you find a sparrow nest, most bluebird trails recommend removing it. It feels harsh, but it’s necessary to protect the native birds.
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The "Two-Box" Strategy
If you have Tree Swallows fighting with your Bluebirds, try this: Put up two boxes, just 5 to 15 feet apart.
It sounds counterintuitive, but Tree Swallows are territorial only against other swallows. Often, a pair of Swallows will claim one box and defend the airspace, while happily letting a Bluebird pair take the second box. It’s a peace treaty that actually works.
Final Thoughts
Bluebirds often raise two or three families in a single summer. Sometimes, the "teenagers" from the first brood will even stick around to help mom and dad feed the new babies. It takes some patience to get the setup right, but once that first family moves in, the "blue happiness" is worth every bit of effort.
Want to See Them Up Close? (Like, Really Up Close?)
You’ve set up the perfect habitat, but let’s be real—you can’t sit by the window 24/7 waiting for the magic to happen. If you want to see every feather, identify every visitor, and even watch the babies hatch from your phone, you need the right gear.
Check out the latest tech from The Bird Feeder Co:
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The Solar Smart Bird Feeder Camera: Stop guessing which bird visited while you were at work. This feeder uses AI to identify over 10,000 species and sends HD video straight to your phone. It’s basically FaceTime with nature.
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The Smart Birdhouse: Ever wonder what happens inside the box? This camera gives you a front-row seat to the nest building and hatching process in clear HD (even at night!). It’s the ultimate reality show, right in your backyard.
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