Top 6 Blue Birds in Nevada
Your complete guide to Nevada's most beautiful blue birds
Nevada's got way more than just desert and casinos. The state's actually home to some incredible blue birds that most people don't even know about.
First time I saw a Mountain Bluebird out near Great Basin, I literally stopped hiking just to watch it. This pale blue bird hovering over sagebrush - something about it just felt... different. Turns out Nevada's desert and mountain landscapes attract some seriously cool blue bird species.
This guide covers the top 6 blue birds you'll find in Nevada. Where they hang out, when to see them, how to ID them. If you're into birds across different states, definitely check out Alaska's red birds , Nebraska's bluebirds , or even Mississippi's bluebirds . Totally different ecosystems, totally different birds. Also, if you're new to bird feeding, these beginner hummingbird feeders are solid.
What Types of Bluebirds Live in Nevada?
Nevada's got two actual bluebird species - Mountain and Western. These are true Nevada blue birds that belong to the bluebird family.
1. Mountain Bluebird – Nevada’s State Bird
Yeah, this is actually Nevada's official state bird. And honestly? Good choice.
Males are this stunning sky-blue color. Like someone took the clearest desert sky and made it into a bird. No orange, no rust - just pure blue. Females are more gray with blue on the wings and tail.
What's cool about Mountain Bluebirds is how they hunt. They hover. Like a little helicopter just hanging in the air, scanning the ground for bugs. Then suddenly drop down, grab something, and fly back up. Eastern Bluebirds don't do this - they perch-hunt only.
According to bird research , Mountain Bluebirds breed in higher elevations but move to lower valleys in winter. You'll see them in open areas - sagebrush flats, meadows, desert grasslands.
2. Western Bluebird
Less common than Mountain Bluebirds in Nevada, but they're here. Mainly in the western and southern parts of the state.
Males have that deep blue color on head and back, with rusty-orange on the chest. Think Eastern Bluebird colors but arranged differently. Females are duller - grayish with some blue tones.
They like areas with more trees than Mountain Bluebirds prefer. Pine forests, juniper woodlands, that kind of habitat. Not as much into wide-open sagebrush.
ID Tip: See orange on the chest? Western Bluebird. All blue, no orange? Mountain Bluebird. Easy.
Other Blue Birds You'll See in Nevada
Not bluebirds, but still blue-colored birds worth knowing about. These complete our list of top 6 blue birds in Nevada .
3. Western Scrub-Jay
These are everywhere in Nevada's lower elevations. Big, bold, loud birds with no crest (unlike their Steller's Jay cousins).
Blue on the head, wings, and tail. Gray-brown back. White throat with blue necklace. They're smart - like scary smart. I've watched them figure out how to open latches on coolers.
Year-round residents in Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands. They cache food like crazy - hiding acorns and seeds everywhere, then remembering thousands of hiding spots. Wild.
4. Steller's Jay
You'll find these in Nevada's mountain forests - mainly the Sierra Nevada range and higher elevations around Lake Tahoe.
Dark blue body with a black head and crest. Loud, raucous birds. If you hear harsh "SHACK SHACK SHACK" calls echoing through pine forests, that's them.
They're bolder than most birds. Will totally raid your campsite if you're not paying attention. Smart, opportunistic, and not shy at all.
5. Blue Grosbeak
Summer visitor to southern Nevada. Not super common but around if you know where to look.
Males are deep blue with rusty wing bars. Chunky bird with a massive bill for cracking seeds. Females are brown - easy to overlook.
They like brushy areas near water. Riparian zones, overgrown fields with scattered trees. More secretive than the jays.
6. Pinyon Jay
These are fascinating birds. They're totally dependent on pinyon pines - the whole species revolves around pinyon nuts.
Dull grayish-blue overall. No crest. They travel in huge flocks - sometimes hundreds of birds. When you find one, you usually find a bunch.
They're actually declining, which is concerning. Climate change is affecting pinyon-juniper woodlands, and that directly impacts these birds.
When is the Best Time to See Bluebirds in Nevada?
Depends on what you're after and where you are in the state.
Spring (March-May): Peak time for blue birds of Nevada . Mountain Bluebirds are setting up territories, singing, nesting. Males are at their brightest. Migratory birds are returning. Best overall season for variety and activity.
Summer (June-August): Breeding season. You'll see parent birds frantically feeding babies. Good time to spot young birds learning to hunt. Hotter in the valleys, so birds concentrate near water and at higher elevations.
Fall (September-November): Migration happening. Mountain Bluebirds moving to lower elevations. Flocks forming. Less colorful than spring but still good birding.
Winter (December-February): Tougher but possible. Mountain Bluebirds in valleys and lower deserts. Western Scrub-Jays year-round. Numbers are lower but the birds that stay are pretty hardy.
Where Can You See Bluebirds in Nevada?
The blue birds found in Nevada are scattered across different habitats. Here's where to look.
Great Basin National Park: Excellent for Mountain Bluebirds. Open meadows, aspen groves, sagebrush valleys. I've had my best sightings here. The park's elevation range means you can find birds year-round at different altitudes.
Red Rock Canyon (near Las Vegas): Western Scrub-Jays are common. Mountain Bluebirds in winter. Desert environment with surprising bird diversity. Easy access from Vegas.
Lake Tahoe area: Steller's Jays everywhere in the pine forests. Western Bluebirds in more open areas. Mountain Bluebirds at higher elevations.
Ruby Mountains: Great for Mountain Bluebirds in summer. Beautiful backcountry birding. More remote but worth it if you're into hiking.
Washoe Lake State Park: Good mix of species. Mountain Bluebirds, Western Scrub-Jays. Easy access from Reno. Good for beginners.
Pro tip: Download the eBird app. Nevada birders are active on it. Shows recent sightings at any location.
Are Bluebirds Migratory or Resident in Nevada?
It's complicated. Both, kinda.
Mountain Bluebirds: Altitudinal migrants. They breed at high elevations in summer, then move downslope in winter. Some leave Nevada entirely, heading south. Others just shift from mountains to valleys. Depends on weather and food.
Western Bluebirds: More resident but still move around. Southern Nevada birds might stay put. Northern birds might shift south or to lower elevations in harsh winters.
Scrub-Jays: Year-round residents. They stay put. Same birds, same territories, all year.
Steller's Jays: Resident in Nevada's mountains. Might move downslope in winter but don't leave the region.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracks these movement patterns. Data shows Nevada's birds have flexible strategies - they go where the food is.
What Do Bluebirds Eat in Nevada?
Mostly insects and berries, with some seasonal variation.
Spring/Summer diet: Insects dominate. Grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars. Mountain Bluebirds catch bugs while hovering or by dropping from a perch. Western Bluebirds are more perch-and-pounce hunters.
They're actually great for pest control. A nesting pair of bluebirds can eat thousands of insects during breeding season.
Fall/Winter diet: Switches to berries and fruit. Juniper berries are huge - both species eat tons of these. Also sumac, elderberry, Russian olive (though that's invasive). Basically any small berry they can swallow whole.
The jays are more omnivorous. They'll eat insects, acorns, pine nuts, seeds, occasionally eggs and nestlings from other birds (yeah, they're jerks sometimes), human food scraps - pretty much whatever's available.
How Can Bluebirds Be Attracted to a Yard in Nevada?
Totally possible if you've got the right setup. Here's what works for attracting common blue birds in Nevada.
Nest Boxes
Critical for bluebirds. They're cavity nesters needing holes to raise babies.
Box specs: 1.5 inch entrance hole (1.5625 for Mountain Bluebirds specifically - they're slightly larger). Floor about 5x5 inches, 8-12 inches tall inside. Mount 5-6 feet high in open areas.
Face the entrance east or northeast - keeps afternoon desert sun from overheating the box. Space boxes at least 100 yards apart. Bluebirds are territorial during breeding.
Clean boxes after each nesting. Nevada's dry climate helps but you still get parasites.
Water Sources
HUGE in Nevada's desert climate. Water attracts more birds than food in dry areas.
Keep birdbaths filled. Change water every 2-3 days - it evaporates fast and gets dirty. Add a bubbler or dripper if possible - moving water attracts birds better.
In summer, birds will come to water constantly. I've seen 6-7 different species at one birdbath in an hour.
Native Landscaping
Plant stuff that produces berries and supports insects. Native plants work best.
Good choices: Four-wing saltbush, rabbitbrush (butterflies love it = caterpillars = bird food), serviceberry, chokecherry, currant species. These all produce berries or attract insects.
Keep some open areas. Bluebirds need clear ground to hunt. Don't landscape everything with thick bushes.
Supplemental Food
Mealworms work great for bluebirds. Live ones especially. Keep them in the fridge, put out a small dish.
Jays will come to platform feeders with peanuts, sunflower seeds, suet. They're not picky.
Real talk: Water matters more than food in Nevada. Focus on that first.
Are Bluebirds Rare in Nevada?
No, not really. Mountain Bluebirds are actually common - it's the state bird for a reason.
You just gotta be in the right habitat. Wide-open sagebrush country, mountain meadows, that's where they thrive. If you're looking in dense forests or urban areas, yeah, you won't find them.
Western Bluebirds are less common but not rare. More localized to specific areas.
The jays are everywhere. Western Scrub-Jays especially - super common in pinyon-juniper zones.
Pinyon Jays are the only ones with conservation concerns. Their populations are declining as pinyon-juniper habitat changes. Not rare yet, but headed that direction if trends continue.
Are Bluebirds Legally Protected in Nevada?
Yes. All native birds in Nevada are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
This means you can't harm them, collect their eggs, destroy nests with eggs or babies, or possess them without permits. Federal law, enforced by US Fish & Wildlife Service.
You CAN put up nest boxes, provide food and water, take photos, watch them all you want. Just can't harm them or interfere with active nests.
European Starlings and House Sparrows are NOT protected - they're invasive. If they take over bluebird boxes, you can legally remove them. Some people consider this harsh but it's legal and helps native birds.
Best Birding Practices in Nevada
Few things to keep in mind for Nevada bird identification and responsible birding.
Bring water - way more than you think you need. Nevada's dry and hot. Dehydration sneaks up on you.
Morning is best. Birds are most active first few hours after sunrise. By midday in summer they're hiding from heat.
Binoculars matter. 8x42 or 10x42 are good all-around sizes. Nevada's open country means birds can be distant.
Stay on trails in protected areas. Desert environments are fragile. Cryptobiotic soil crusts take decades to form, seconds to destroy.
Report sightings to eBird. Takes two minutes, helps science, shows other birders what's around.
Don't play recordings to attract birds during breeding season. It stresses them out. Look and listen naturally.
Final Thoughts
Nevada's blue bird species in Nevada are way cooler than most people realize. From the pale blue Mountain Bluebirds hovering over sagebrush to the raucous Steller's Jays in mountain forests - there's good variety here.
You don't need to travel to exotic places for great birding. Nevada's got it right here. Just gotta know where to look and when to go.
Start with the easy stuff. Find a state park, bring binoculars, show up early morning. Check eBird for recent sightings. You'll be spotting native blue birds in Nevada faster than you think.
And if you're into exploring birds in other regions, there's tons of good info out there. Check out resources on Texas birds of prey or Alabama's red birds - totally different ecosystems, equally fascinating.
Get out there. Nevada's blue birds are waiting.