Overview
As one of our first spring arrivals, the Mountain Bluebird is a welcome sight across Jackson Hole. The bright spark of electric blue in late winter signals warmer temperatures are on the way. These delightful little thrushes will feed exclusively on insects, occupying nests along a forest’s edge where it lines an open prairie. Despite the shows that the male might put on to attract a female, the female is much more likely to choose a mate based solely on the nest site. The males have their hard-to-miss bright blue contrasting against their white undersides, while females are a more drab, pale brown.
Migration
Mountain Bluebirds winter across much of the lower southwestern United States. A small population will extend into the southwestern Great Plains as well, while others head down into northern Mexico. In the breeding season, they’ll head north into the interior western United States and into the western Great Plains, stretching out into western Canada.
Where to Find Them in Jackson Hole
Mountain Bluebirds are frequently seen scattering from cars driving around Antelope Flats. This can be one of the more reliable areas to see them, however they will perch along a forest’s edge anywhere there’s an open expanse of sagebrush flats. This can include places like the Snake River Overlook, the Lupine Meadows Trailhead area, and along the glacial moraine of Jenny Lake, among others. Note that they’re only around from mid-March through October or so.