20 Awesome Facts About Eastern Bluebirds
- Where Do Eastern Bluebirds Live? Eastern bluebirds live in most of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, and in parts of Southern Canada. ...
- What Do Eastern Bluebirds Eat? Eastern bluebirds eat mostly insects, and they tend to catch them on the ground. ...
- How Long Do Eastern Bluebirds Live? ...
- Do Eastern Bluebirds Mate for Life? ...
Do blue birds mate for life?
The majority of the bluebirds do mate for life. The others that don’t have reasons justifying it. There are many underlying causes like nesting failure and the death of a partner that can change the bird’s mating status. Bluebirds’ relationships are unique, even if they aren’t always faithful to their lovers.
What are facts about the eastern bluebird?
Here are the seven subspecies of Eastern Bluebirds that are currently recognized:
- Sialia sialis sialis is the most common one in the US
- bemudensis in Bermuda
- nidificans in central Mexico
- fulva in the southwestern US and Mexico
- guatamalae in southern Mexico in Guatemala
- meridionalis in El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua
- caribaea in Honduras and Nicaragua
Do eastern bluebirds migrate for the winter?
Do eastern bluebirds migrate for the winter? Some Eastern Bluebirds migrate south in the winter and others can remain north. There is no fixed migration route for bluebirds. Like the American Robin they can overwinter anywhere as long as there is food, water, and shelter.
How to attract bluebirds in Florida?
How to attract bluebirds in florida. Bluebirds select nest sites in open grassy areas. Even today research is being conducted to determine the effectiveness of using bluebirds. Planting fruiting trees shrubs and vines in your yard can attract bluebirds and many other birds.
What states have Eastern Bluebirds?
There are three species of bluebirds that live in the United States, but the Eastern Bluebird is the only species found in Tennessee. Eastern Bluebirds find their home in Tennessee and in other states, primarily east of the Rocky Mountains.
Where can you find the Eastern Bluebird?
Bluebird Species Eastern bluebirds are primarily found east of the Rockies, and range from Canada to Mexico and Honduras. They are much admired for their lovely coloring and for a distinctive song that many hear as “chur-lee, chur-lee.” The eastern bluebird is the state bird of both New York and Missouri.
Is the Eastern Bluebird rare?
Eastern Bluebird Habitat and Distribution Their overall range extends throughout eastern North America, including southern Canada and central Mexico. These bluebirds are rare but regularly seen in western Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, western Nebraska and western Kansas.
Where do most bluebirds live?
Bluebirds live in gardens, grasslands, woodlands, and parks of mainland USA, Canada, and Mexico. They prefer large open lands with foliage to perch on. Bluebirds prefer to build their nest in natural cavities or nesting boxes near grasslands.
How do I attract Eastern bluebirds to my yard?
9 Ways to Attract Eastern Bluebirds to Your YardInstall a bluebird-approved nesting box. Eastern bluebird. ... Offer mealworms. Eastern bluebird preparing to snack on mealworms. ... Have water available. ... Keep it Open. ... Plant native. ... Provide Appealing feeder Food. ... Avoid clearing dead, dying trees. ... Go organic.More items...•
Where do Eastern bluebirds go in winter?
Bluebirds leave breeding grounds in the north of their range to winter in the southeastern U.S. or Mexico. Populations in the northern part of their range are entirely migratory, spending winters in the southeastern United States or Mexico. Some fly as far as 2,000 miles between western Manitoba and Texas.
Do bluebirds come back to the same house every year?
According to two different studies, 26% – 44% of adult bluebirds return to breed at the same site where they nested the previous year. Therefore, there is about a one in three chance that the bluebirds you have in your nest box this year will return to the same box the following year.
What does it mean to see an Eastern bluebird?
Some believe the bluebird is a symbol of joy and hope; others, that good news will be arriving soon. Others still think that bluebirds represent a connection between the living and those who have passed away.
Are bluebirds friendly?
Bluebirds are friendly. They seem to almost enjoy human company. They display no fear of nesting near human habitation. They tolerate monitoring of their nests as we peek in to see their fuzzy-headed hatchlings.
Who eats eastern bluebird?
Eastern chipmunks and flying squirrels prey on eastern bluebird eggs and nestlings. House sparrows, European starlings, American kestrels black rat snakes, black racers, fire ants, domestic cats, black bears, and raccoons are predators of adults and chicks.
What do Eastern Bluebirds eat in winter?
Meal worms, suet, sunflower hearts, softened fruits, and cornmeal muffins can all be fed to bluebirds. Most of these will be accepted during the cold weather months if bluebirds have wintered over. But, meal worms are the best food to feed bluebirds and they will readily eat them year-round.
Are blue jays and blue birds the same?
The one common thing that separates these birds visually would be the distinct crests on the heads of blue jays. This can be easily identified by even novice birders. Bluebirds and blue jays belong to different families as jays belong to the Corvidae family, which, apart from jays, have crows and magpies.
Is the Eastern bluebird endangered?
Least Concern (Population increasing)Eastern bluebird / Conservation status
How many eastern bluebirds are there?
Conservation. Eastern Bluebird populations increased between 1966 and 2019, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 23 million. The species rates a 7 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, indicating a species of low conservation concern.
Where is bluebird 2021?
They overwinter in areas as far south as central Mexico, southern Florida, and by some accounts, Cuba. In the spring and summer, they nest in areas as far north as southern Canada. Not all eastern bluebirds migrate, however. In many southeastern and south-central states, there are populations that remain year-round.
What is the range of the Eastern Bluebird?
Although it is mostly 'eastern' in our area, its total range extends south to Nicaragua. A high percentage of Eastern Bluebirds in North America today nest in birdhouses put up especially for them along 'bluebird trails. ' When they are not nesting, these birds roam the countryside in small flocks.
Where do bluebirds live?
Eastern Bluebirds occur across eastern North America and south as far as Nicaragua. Birds that live farther north and in the west of the range tend to lay more eggs than eastern and southern birds.
What bird is blue on the back?
Marvelous birds to capture in your binoculars, male Eastern Bluebirds are a brilliant royal blue on the back and head, and warm red-brown on the breast. Blue tinges in the wings and tail give the grayer females an elegant look. More ID Info. Range map provided by Birds of the World Explore Maps. Find This Bird.
Do bluebirds like nest boxes?
Eastern Bluebirds are a great prospect for nest boxes if you have the space to put one up in your yard, and if your yard isn’t too hemmed in by trees or houses. Consider putting up a nest box to attract a breeding pair. Make sure you put it up well before breeding season. Attach a guard to keep predators from raiding eggs and young. Find out more about nest boxes on All About Birdhouses, where you'll find plans for building a nest box of the appropriate size for Eastern Bluebird.
Do bluebirds build nests?
The male Eastern Bluebird displays at his nest cavity to attract a female. He brings nest material to the hole, goes in and out, and waves his wings while perched above it. That is pretty much his contribution to nest building; only the female Eastern Bluebird builds the nest and incubates the eggs.
Where is the Eastern Bluebird located?
The type location is South Carolina. Linnaeus based his short Latin description on the earlier more detailed descriptions by the English naturalists Mark Catesby ...
How big are bluebirds?
Eastern bluebirds measure 16–21 cm (6.3–8.3 in) long, span 25–32 cm (9.8–12.6 in) across the wings, and weigh 27–34 g (0.95–1.20 oz). Male bluebirds have a bright head, back, and wings. Their breast is a brownish red. Females are lighter with gray on the head and back and some blue on their wings and tail.
What is the name of the bluebird that lives in open woodlands?
Synonyms. Motacilla sialis Linnaeus, 1758. The eastern bluebird ( Sialia sialis) is a small North American migratory thrush found in open woodlands, farmlands, and orchards. The bright-blue breeding plumage of the male, easily observed on a wire or open perch, makes this species a favorite of birders.
How long do bluebirds live?
Bluebirds may begin breeding the summer after they are hatched. Eastern bluebirds can live for 6 to 10 years. The longest recorded lifespan for a bluebird is 10 years and five months. However, most bluebirds die within their first year of life.
Why are bluebirds called blue robins?
They were referred to as the 'blue robin' because of their resemblance to the European Robin. Bluebirds have been mentioned in the works of many writers including Thoreau 's writings, Robert Frost's "The Last Word of a Bluebird (as told to a child)", the " Over the Rainbow " song from The Wizard of Oz, the song " Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah " ("Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder") from Disney's Song of the South, and John Burrough's "The Bluebird". Lawrence Zeleny said that bluebirds represent joy to Americans.
What do bluebirds eat?
The remainder is made up of wild fruits or berries. It has a preference for grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and beetles; and will also eat earthworms, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, sowbugs, and snails.
When did bluebirds start to thrive?
Eastern Bluebirds thrived in the 1700s and 1800s. This flourishing is thought to be connected with the activity of settlers. Clearing forests made new habitat available for bluebirds and nesting sites were created in the increasing numbers of apple orchards and in wooden fence posts that eventually rotted.
Where do bluebirds live?
These bluebirds are year-round residents in the southeastern United States, though their summer breeding populations range as far north as southern Canada. In winter, their non-breeding range extends slightly further west in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. Overall, however, the bulk of the eastern bluebird's range is occupied throughout the year.
What is the identification of Eastern Bluebird?
Eastern Bluebird Identification. Eastern bluebirds aren't the only blue birds to be seen, and it is important that birders easily recognize the key field marks that make this species distinct, from its bill to its markings to the unique plumage pattern of juveniles.
How to attract bluebirds to your backyard?
There are several easy ways backyard birders can attract bluebirds. Eastern bluebirds readily nest in birdhouses and nesting boxes, often placed in open areas. Nesting boxes should be left up year-round for roosting birds, as bluebirds will readily use them in the winter for shelter during storms or bitter cold. Backyard birders can also attract these colorful birds by offering mealworms and suet in ground or platform feeders. A bird-friendly landscape with berry-producing shrubs will also help attract eastern bluebirds, particularly in fall and winter. Broad, shallow bird baths are also ideal for providing water to a flock of thirsty bluebirds.
What state is the bluebird in?
Its melodious song, insectivorous diet, and willingness to occupy birdhouses and nesting boxes also make this member of the Turdidae bird family a favorite visitor for many backyard birders. The popularity of these birds has also brought them fame, and eastern bluebirds are the official state birds of Missouri and New York.
What are the most beautiful birds in Missouri?
With rich blue, white, and rust plumage, the eastern bluebird is one of the most beautiful backyard birds. Its melodious song, insectivorous diet, and willingness to occupy birdhouses and nesting boxes also make this member of the Turdidae bird family a favorite visitor for many backyard birders. The popularity of these birds has also brought them fame, and eastern bluebirds are the official state birds of Missouri and New York. There are always more facts to discover about eastern bluebirds, and even birders familiar with these popular birds can learn more about what makes these birds so amazing with this informational profile.
What family are bluebirds in?
Eastern bluebirds belong to the Turdidae bird family, which includes more than 170 species of solitaires, thrushes, blackbirds, and other bluebirds. Close relatives of the eastern bluebird, including similar species in other bird families that are just as fascinating, include:
What color are eastern bluebirds?
Male eastern bluebirds have a bright blue head, wings, back, and tail with a rusty red chin, throat, chest, and flanks. The lower belly and undertail coverts are white, and the wingtips may appear darker blue or blue-gray. Female birds are similar, but usually appear paler, dusty, or duller overall, with more noticeable gray on the head and wings. A faint white eye ring may be visible on both males and females.
What is the ANR number for Eastern Bluebirds?
Download a PDF of Eastern Bluebirds, ANR-0687.
How many broods do bluebirds make in Alabama?
Build the boxes to prevent larger birds, such as starlings, from using them. Normally bluebirds produce two to three broods per year in Alabama. The female begins the first nest in mid-April.
Why do bluebirds need nest boxes?
When boxes are placed in good areas, bluebird populations increase rapidly. Providing nest boxes can be a rewarding hobby for individuals, clubs, and classes. Not only are bluebirds pleasing to observe, but also the activities of box maintenance and checking are hands-on educational experiences in bird biology.
What birds use bluebird boxes?
If boxes are located near woods and brush piles, other species of birds, such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and wrens, will use the bluebird boxes.
Why are bluebird cavities so hard to find?
These cavities are often hard to find because nonnative species, such as the house sparrow and starling, also use cavities for nesting. These exotic species are very aggressive and take cavities or boxes bluebirds could use or destroy occupied nests.
What do bluebirds like to do?
The bluebird, like the robin, prefers open areas such as roadsides, cutover woodlands, old orchards, parks, and yards in cities and towns. In these areas, the bluebird tries to find a hollow tree (cavity tree) in which to build a loosely woven nest of grasses.
How long do bluebirds stay in the nest?
Male bluebirds will not get their full color until after 1 year of life. Young birds remain in the nest for about 15 days after hatching. The male is in charge of the young bluebirds when they leave the nest. He feeds them and teaches them how to find food to feed themselves.
Where are the Eastern Bluebirds found?
There are seven subspecies of Eastern bluebirds. These are Sialia Sialis Cialis (found in southeast Canada, central USA and northeast Mexico), Sialia sialis bermudensis (found in Bermuda), Sialia sialis nidificates (found in east-central Mexico), Sialia sialis fulva (found in the southeast USA and central Mexico), Sialia sialis Guatemala (found in southeast Mexico), Sialia sialis meridionalis (found in EI Salvador and north Nicaragua) and Sialia sialis caribaea Howell (found in eastern Honduras and northeast Nicaragua).
Where do bluebirds live?
Eastern bluebirds are found in North America and Central America. They are found east of the Rocky Mountains extending from southern Canada and Gulf states to Mexico and Honduras.
How many broods do bluebirds have?
Eastern bluebirds are monogamous. Some also show polygamy. They raise 2 or 3 broods per year. They breed in summer and spring. After picking a spot to build a nest, males perform certain courtship rituals of flapping and preening wings to attract females. After mating, females lay 3 to 7 blue coloured eggs; after incubation, the eggs hatch.
How long do Eastern Bluebirds live?
They are listed as least concerned by International Union for the Conservation of Nature. There are approximately 20 million Eastern bluebirds in the world. Their average lifespan is 6 to 10 years.
Why are bluebirds aggressive?
Males are aggressive towards males and females towards females because of the defense of paternity.
What are the predators of Eastern Bluebirds?
Some of the predators of Eastern bluebirds are raccoons, chipmunks, snakes, squirrels, sparrows and cats. These predators mostly steal eggs and nestlings. Hawks and owls mostly attack adults. The biggest threats to these birds are habitat destruction and competition for food. Their habitats have been converted into commercial property and farmlands.
How long do hens incubate eggs?
The eggs are pale blue in colour and are unmarked. Incubation is done by females for about 13 to 16 days. After two weeks, the chicks hatch and are then fed by both the parents. The chicks leave the nest and become able to fly after a further 15 to 20 days.
Which states have bluebirds?
Missouri and New York are the two states that are represented by the eastern bluebird as their official bird. On March 30, 1927, the bluebird was chosen to become Missouri’s official state bird. New York adopted the bluebird as their state bird in 1970 ( 2 ). The bluebird had won an informal referendum on April 13, 1928, held by the New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs.
What does the Eastern Bluebird call?
Common eastern bluebird calls include sounds like the words “truly” or “purity” when repeated multiple times.
How many eggs do bluebirds lay?
Female bluebirds lay 2 to 8 light blue or whitish eggs that hatch after 12 to 16 days. Eggs laid by the same female Eastern Bluebird have the same color, and so eggs in the same nest of different colors indicate those of a different female.
What does a bluebird do when it is perched on a tree?
The male bluebird brings his nesting material to the hole of the tree, goes in and out, and waves his wings while perched above it. Like a courtship display, the male will sing and flutter in front of the female, partly spreading his wings and tail.
How many species of bluebirds are there?
There are 3 main species in the bluebird family, which are the Eastern Bluebird sialia sialis, the Mountain Bluebird (Siala currucoides), and the Western Bluebird (Siala mexicana).
How long do bluebirds live?
Eastern Bluebirds have a normal lifespan of 6 to 10 years. They can survive 6 years in the wild and up to 10 years in captivity. However, most mortality occurs in the first year of life, making average lifespans much shorter than this.
Why do bluebirds fly?
When hunting, Eastern Bluebirds often fly from their perch to the ground to catch insects. Eastern Bluebirds are gregarious birds that live in flocks of 100 birds outside the breeding season. They communicate through songs and body language.
Food Sources
During winter, the birds feed on leaves, buds, and sometimes small insects that they find on the ground and fly to higher places to forage.
Range
These birds are an important part of the North American migratory songbird population. Eastern bluebirds range throughout most of North America but are mostly found in Northern USA and Canada with some rare sightings occurring in Western states like California.
Habitat
Although they are mostly found in woodlands, prairies, and the lower reaches of large rivers, they can also be found along smaller streams and even in small ponds, and lakes.
Nesting
It nests in natural cavities and trees with dense foliage, as well as on man-made structures such as nest boxes. Bluebirds typically lay three to five eggs in the springtime. These birds typically mate for life and have only one brood per year.
Migration Path
Eastern Bluebirds are a small, medium-sized bird that migrate south for the winter. They do not typically fly to Florida and instead go farther south than most birds. Eastern Bluebirds have one of the longest migration paths of any North American songbird.
Migration Period
Eastern Bluebirds have a very large range that covers all of North America and Central America, with some reaching as far south as Argentina. They migrate north in spring to nest before returning south in fall.
Lifespan
Eastern bluebirds are one of the few North American birds that live more than 10 years. The Eastern Bluebird lives an average of 6-10.4 years in the wild. There are many factors that affect lifespan including sex, region, predators, and habitat quality.
3 Types of Bluebirds Found in the US
In this guide we will be covering the following 3 bluebird species along with teaching you how to identify them in the wild and where you can find them:
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
The Eastern male Bluebird has a deep, lovely blue back and side with a rusty or brick-red color on the throat and breast. The females are more muted and a little duller. Males often look plain gray-brown from a distance. Females seem a little grayish above with bluish wings and tail.
Western Bluebird (Sialia Mexicana)
The gorgeous Western Bluebird is every bit as “blue” as the Eastern Bluebird. They look very similar but there are subtle differences. Here’s how you can tell them apart. The Western Bluebird’s head is ALMOST entirely blue, where the Eastern bluebird has that rusty red portion below the beak/throat and sort of fades back behind the head.
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia curruciodes)
If you see a Mountain Bluebird, you know you’ve seen something truly special! You won’t mistake it for any other bird in the mountains. The males are covered with beautiful sky-blue feathers on their head, back, and wings.
Overview
Distribution and habitat
The eastern bluebird is found east of the Rockies, southern Canada to the Gulf states, and southeastern Arizona to Nicaragua. The increase in trees throughout the Great Plains during the past century due to fire suppression and tree planting facilitated the western range expansion of the species. as well as range expansions of many other species of birds. From 1966-2015 the eastern bluebird experienced a greater than 1.5% annual population increase throughout most o…
Taxonomy
The eastern bluebird was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Motacilla sialis. The type location is South Carolina. Linnaeus based his short Latin description on the earlier more detailed descriptions by the English naturalists Mark Catesby and George Edwards. The eastern bluebird is now pla…
Description
Eastern bluebirds measure 16–21 cm (6.3–8.3 in) long, span 25–32 cm (9.8–12.6 in) across the wings, and weigh 27–34 g (0.95–1.20 oz).
Male bluebirds have a bright head, back, and wings. Their breast is a brownish red. Females are lighter with gray on the head and back and some blue on their wings and tail. In females, the breast is usually lighter in color than in males, and is more orange.
Behavior and ecology
Eastern bluebirds are social, and will sometimes gather in flocks of over a hundred. However, they are territorial during the breeding season and may continue to defend a feeding area throughout the winter.
Mating occurs in the spring and summer. A mature female typically raises two broods each season. Nests are constructed in trees within abandoned woodp…
Conservation
Eastern Bluebirds thrived in the 1700s and 1800s. This flourishing is thought to be connected with the activity of settlers. Clearing forests made new habitat available for bluebirds and nesting sites were created in the increasing numbers of apple orchards and in wooden fence posts that eventually rotted. It is believed that bluebirds were most abundant around 1900. However, increasing competition with the invasive species of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and hou…
In culture
Bluebirds were popular with early American colonists and associated with the coming of spring. They were referred to as the 'blue robin' because of their resemblance to the European Robin. Bluebirds have been mentioned in the works of many writers including Thoreau's writings, Robert Frost's "The Last Word of a Bluebird (as told to a child)", the "Over the Rainbow" song from The Wizard of Oz, the song "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" ("Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder") from Disney's So…
See also
• Bluebird of happiness