What to Feed Eastern Bluebirds

(And What Actually Works)

A cartoon bird with a cute, smiling face, gray body, blue wings, and small orange feet, flying.
A cute animated bird with a blue head and wings, orange belly and beak, big eyes, flying against a plain background.

Bluebirds don't go after standard birdseed — so if you want to bring them in reliably, dried mealworms are your best friend. We've tried a few different feeder setups over the years and learned what works and what doesn't. Here's our honest breakdown.

Our Mealworm Feeder Switch

(The Before & After)

Eastern bluebird eating mealworms from dome mealworm feeder

Our first mealworm feeder was an open dome style — it worked for a while until we realized mockingbirds were taking over and the mealworms were getting soggy in the rain. We switched to an enclosed feeder with small entry holes on each side — just wide enough for a bluebird to slip in for a snack, but too small for most other birds. It made a noticeable difference immediately. This is the one we LOVE and use every day.

 (our old, open mealworm feeder) 

 Find it here → Dome Mealworm Feeder   

Male and female eastern bluebirds perched near enclosed mealworm feeder

 (our new mealworm feeder, we LOVE)

     Find it here → Enclosed Mealworm Feeder

The Food

Bag of dried mealworms for feeding eastern bluebirds

Dried mealworms are the single best thing you can put in your feeder. We always keep ours full — when the mealworms are out, the bluebirds notice immediately. One thing we discovered: a birdseed mix with dried blueberries actually caught their attention too, which surprised us. For the most part though, mealworms are what reliably brings them in every time.

 Find it here → Dried Mealworms

Flock of eastern bluebirds gathered at backyard bird feeder

 Find it here → Birdseed mix w/ dried blueberries

Never Miss a Visitor

One thing we've been eyeing for our own backyard collection is the Birdfy smart feeder — a camera-equipped feeder that IDs birds automatically and records every visit. Set it up once and let the discoveries come to you.

Check it out here → Birdfy Birdfeeder Camera

A bird feeder with a clear tube filled with birdseed, a small perch with a bird on it, and a camera mounted on the feeder. A smartphone is capturing an image of the bird. The scene is outdoors with green grass and tree branches.

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Next step: add a camera to watch the magic from inside

Back to the full setup guide

Have little ones watching with you? Check out our book

Add a Nest Camera
Back to the Full Setup Guide
Check Out Our Book
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Wooden birdhouse on a post with a sign that reads 'The Bluebird Inn,' surrounded by grass and rocks.
Children's storybook titled 'Anna Marie and the Bluebird Inn' with colorful illustrations including a girl, a birdhouse, and a nest with blue eggs.