Do Bluebirds Enjoy Bird Baths? 6 Ways to Create the Perfect Setup

What Kind of Bluebird Can I Expect in My Yard?

What type of bluebird you can attract to your yard depends on where you live. According to the Audobon, there are three types of bluebirds in North America:

• Eastern bluebirds live in the states east of the Rocky Mountains. Its range covers the Gulf of Mexico in the south and southern Canada in the north.
• Western bluebirds live in the Western U.S. as far south as Mexico and north as Washington and Canada. Its range extends as far east as eastern Texas.
• Mountain bluebirds are found in the West and are sometimes seen as far east as the Great Plains. 

Do Bluebirds Enjoy Bird Baths?

Bluebirds are indeed attracted to water, such as ponds and bird baths. Even the act of adding a bird bath to your yard may help to attract bluebirds since they need a clean water source. However, you can take the following steps to make your bird bath even more enticing to bluebirds.

1.  Add a Shallow Bird Bath to Your Yard

According to the Michigan Bluebird Society, the first step to attracting bluebirds in your yard using water is to simply add a bird bath. The best kind of bird bath has a shallow bowl. If the water in your bird bath is deeper than one and a half inches, add stones or rocks to the middle to give the little bluebirds a safe place to perch. By placing your bath on a pedestal, you can keep the birds safe from predators that prowl on the ground, such as cats.

2. Bluebirds Are Even More Attracted to Moving Water

The soft sounds of moving water will do even more to lure bluebirds to your yard. You can add a mister, dripper, or fountain to your birdbath. This doesn’t have to be an expensive setup. You can find moderately priced solar-powered fountains for sale online. Or, if you choose to get a dripper, many drippers come with a Y-attachment so that you can run water to the tubing while still using your garden hose. Moving water will not only attract bluebirds but you may be surprised to see many new species of birds appearing in your bird bath.

3. Regularly Clean the Bird Bath

Birds not only drink water from a bird bath but clean themselves in it, meaning it can get rather messy in no time at all. Bluebirds will be more likely to visit your bird bath if the water is clean and fresh. Keeping the water clean will also help prevent mosquito larvae from finding a water source. Additionally, stagnant and dirty water can carry disease, which can spread rapidly through the bird population.

4. Add a Perch Nearby

Bluebirds love to perch as they survey the area around them to avoid predators and hunt for insects. Add a perching spot about three to six feet above the ground and near your bird bath to attract bluebirds. However, the perch just needs to be near the birdbath, not hanging over it.

5. Add a Heated Bird Bath for Winter

If you’re lucky enough to live in a region where bluebirds stay over winter, they will need a fresh source of water. By adding a heated bird bath to your garden, you can provide them with a clean and fresh water source all winter. You can buy an electric bird bath which plugs into an electrical outlet. There are also bird bath heaters or de-icers that can be placed at the bottom of your existing bird bath.

6. Make Your Yard a Bluebird Paradise

Finally, bluebirds will be more likely to come to your birdbath if your yard is appealing to them. Bluebirds like to hide in trees and shrubs for cover from predators. They also like to hunt for insects in areas of low grass. Keeping your yard free of pesticides is critical for the health of bluebirds visiting your yard and feasting on bugs. Landscaping your yard with trees and shrubs, while also providing an area with short grass will make your yard one that bluebirds will love to visit. Some examples of plants that bluebirds especially love include flowering dogwood, elderberry, and hawthorn.