Eastern Bluebird - Photos by Bruce Dayton - Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Turdidae (Thrushes - 15 Species)
SPECIES: Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Eastern Bluebird
Bluebirds consume large quantities of destructive insect pests. This makes them an important friend to the farmers and conservationists. Bluebird populations decreased in the 50s, 60s and 70s due to pesticides, loss of proper nesting sites and increased competition from imported birds, such as House Sparrows and Starlings. The American Bluebird Society was founded in 1978. Since then, Bluebird boxes have been placed in suitable places throughout the Bluebird's breeding range. As a result, many areas have seen increased Bluebird populations.
SIZE	The Eastern Bluebird is a small (6-8") thrush with a short black bill. A songbird that has a melodic warble.
DESCRIPTION	Adult males have a bright blue on their head, nape and back with a slightly duller blue on their wings and tail. They have a reddish brown (rusty) color on their throat and breast with a white belly and undertail coverts. Adult females have a dull blue with a washed-out look on their wings and tail. They have a brownish-orange breast, throat, and flank. They have a white belly and undertail coverts and a thin, white eye ring.
NESTING	The natural nesting place for an Eastern Bluebird is a tree cavity, often an abandoned woodpecker nest cavity. The female constructs the nest with dried grasses and weeds that is provided by her mate. The female lays 3-6 eggs in each clutch, which are incubated in 12 to 14 days. The clutch size and the number of broods of a bluebird varies with the geographic range they are in. Man-made bluebird houses are helping to alive the nesting crisis, which in turn is increasing the populations in some areas.
RANGE	The Eastern Bluebird breeds in southern Canada southward in the eastern half of the United States and through the highlands of Mexico to Central America. They winter in the southern portions of their breeding range. The amount of movement south of their winter range varies according to the severity of the winter.
HABITAT	They are often observed in open habitats such as agricultural areas, open woodlands, along the edges of woods, orchards and in open country with scattered trees.
SPECIAL	There are three species of Bluebirds; Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird and the Mountain Bluebird.
DIET	Bluebirds are ground feeders. They prefer to feed upon insects whenever available. Bluebirds perch above ground level to hunt for insects (they have great eyesight). Although the bluebird's diet is made up mostly of insects, (crickets, katydids, grasshoppers and beetles), when insects are not available, they do eat berries and fruits. Bluebirds have been known to eat from feeders that offer mealworms and raisins.

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The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2008 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit.

NOTE: This site will be updated as pictures, information and time become available.




Ledyard Township Cayuga County, New York	Savannah Township Wayne County, New York




Bluebird Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes