Status in British Columbia
Breeding:  Fairly common breeder at lower elevations in the southern quarter of the province's interior.  Formerly bred on Vancouver Island, but no records since the early 1990s.
Non-breeding:  Small numbers winter in the southern Okanagan Valley, rarely elsewhere.  In the past few years, tallies in the Okanagan have been impressive.  An estimated 100 birds were near the north end of Osoyoos Lake March 21, 2002 (Hank VanderPol) and 226 were found on the Penticton CBC December 14, 2003 (fide Richard Cannings), the latter providing an all-time Canadian CBC high.  In early 2004, up to six Western Bluebirds discovered in the Kamloops and Monte Creek area (6 birds - January 11), providing the first winter records of this species this far north (fide Rick Howie).
Population Numbers:  A rough guess at total BC breeding population is about 2,000 to 3,000 pairs.  Up to 300 birds may winter in the province.
Population Trends:  Competition with other species such as European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), and loss of nesting habitat are believed to have contributed to the drastic decline in Western Bluebird numbers in the last 30 years.  This species has virtually disappeared from Vancouver Island where it was once fairly common and conspicuous.  Interior breeding populations are probably fairly stable at the present time.

Until the early 1970's this species was fairly widespread on Vancouver Island.  Vagrants ranged to the northern tip of the island.  According to Campbell et al. 1997, one was at Cape Scott September 30, 1935; and individuals were at Port Hardy November 24, 1936 and April 1, 1951.  Loose aggregations wintered in the south - 59 were tallied on the Victoria Christmas Bird Count December 27, 1964.  The Western Bluebird is now considered a vagrant at any time of year on the coast.  The six birds at Beacon Hill Park on December 19, 2001 (fide Victoria RBA) provided a recent noteworthy record.

Click HERE to View our Western Bluebird image gallery.