Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) is in the Thrushes family (Turdidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 138,645 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Eastern Bluebird: observations by month (U.S.)
About Eastern Bluebird
The eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) is a small thrush found in open woodlands, farmlands, and orchards. It is the state bird of Missouri and New York.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Eastern Bluebird by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 28,257 | April | Oct–Jul |
| Virginia | 9,829 | April | Oct–Jul |
| North Carolina | 9,153 | April | Nov–Jul |
| Maryland | 8,788 | April | Sep–Jul |
| South Carolina | 7,974 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Pennsylvania | 7,509 | April | Oct–Jul |
| Florida | 6,688 | April | Oct–Jun |
| Ohio | 6,211 | May | Dec–Jul |
| Tennessee | 5,158 | April | Oct–Jul |
| Georgia | 4,375 | April | Dec–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 4,248 | April | Oct–Jul |
| Illinois | 3,350 | May | Feb–Jul |
| Alabama | 3,317 | April | Jan–Jul |
| New York | 3,038 | May | Feb–Jul |
| Arkansas | 2,508 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Indiana | 2,418 | April | Jan–Jun |
| New Jersey | 2,210 | April | Oct–Jul |
| Missouri | 2,186 | April | Oct–Jul |
| Michigan | 2,123 | April | Feb–Jul |
| Minnesota | 2,051 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Louisiana | 1,885 | April | Jan–May |
| Vermont | 1,663 | May | Oct–Aug |
| Connecticut | 1,616 | April | Oct–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 1,567 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 1,412 | April | Jan–Jun |
| Mississippi | 1,279 | April | Oct–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 1,275 | April | Dec–Aug |
| Maine | 1,182 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Kansas | 984 | May | Jan–Jul |
| Kentucky | 957 | April | Feb–Jul |
| Delaware | 643 | March | Oct–Aug |
| West Virginia | 629 | April | Nov–Jun |
| Iowa | 596 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Nebraska | 394 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New Mexico | 278 | February | Nov–May |
| District of Columbia | 249 | April | Oct–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 182 | May | Oct–May |
| Arizona | 137 | January | Oct–Aug |
| Colorado | 131 | January | Oct–Jan |
| South Dakota | 94 | May | Mar–Jul |
| North Dakota | 53 | June | May–Sep |
| Montana | 11 | May | May–Jul |
| Oregon | 11 | November | Nov–Jan |
| Washington | 11 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Wyoming | 9 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Utah | 5 | January | Jan–Jan |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Thrushes)
American Robin
Western Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Mountain Bluebird
Wood Thrush
Varied Thrush
Townsend's Solitaire
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Eastern Bluebird?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from October to July.
Where is Eastern Bluebird most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Virginia, North Carolina.