BEAUTIFUL BLUEBIRDS
Harbingers of Spring!

Bluebirds endear themselves to us with their beauty, song ... and even their diet of insects!  They are faithful parents and seem to like to raise their families near human habitation.  All these qualities delight us and are good reasons to encourage them to visit.

There are three species of these beautiful birds found in North America.  Each species is 6-1/2 inches long ...

• Eastern (male) has a bright blue back, rusty chest and white belly ... a very handsome bird (that is pictured to the right).
• Western (male) is quite similar but has dark blue on the throat and rust on the shoulders.
• Mountain (male) is striking in total cobalt blue.

Where are Bluebirds Found?

These beautiful birds are permanent residents in the southern part of the U.S. and migrants in the northern regions.  The Eastern and Western species roughly divide the U.S. on a line from North Dakota to Texas ... seasonally stretching beyond into Canada and Mexico.  The Mountain Bluebird is found in a narrow band of western mountains and seasonally they can be found from Mexico to Alaska.

What is Bluebird Habitat?

The Eastern species is found in open woodland, rural yards and farmland, preferring deciduous trees.  Westerns favor forest edges and open woods.  They frequent lowlands in winter and prefer conifer trees.  Mountain Bluebirds are found in a narrow band of western mountain conifer forests in the summer.  They go to wooded valleys of pinyon-juniper woods in the winter.

What do Bluebirds Eat?

They are primarily insect eaters.  Eastern Bluebirds will drop to the ground from perches to catch insects.  The Western species feed from perches but will also catch insects in the air, or hover then drop to the ground to catch prey.  Mountain Bluebirds often feed by hovering and then drop to catch an insect.  They will also hawk them out of the air or drop to the ground from a perch.

All three species will come to Bird Feeders for suet (peanut suet works well), sunflower chips, peanut meats, peanut butter mixes, berries, mealworms, raisins and other fleshy dried fruit.  Mealworms are especially favored when the Bluebirds are feeding babies.  Placing a feeder near a Bluebird house will help nesting birds when the demands of feeding young are great.  When the babies fledge the parents will bring them to your feeder.

Bluebirds natural winter foods are berries from shrubs, trees and vines.  Favorites include dogwood, holly, highbush cranberry, honeysuckle and pyracantha.  These natural foods help attract the birds and perhaps will keep them in your yard longer in the fall.

Attracting Bluebirds to Your Backyard

If you have Bluebirds close to your backyard attract them with Platform Feeders (open, covered, or enclosed).  The covered and enclosed feeders are especially designed for the timid Bluebirds.  These specialty feeders prevent pesky Mockingbirds and Robins from chasing them off.  To help attract Bluebirds be sure to offer a source of water.  Bird Baths encourage the birds to visit and will provide a necessary function ... water for drinking and bathing.

Bluebird Nesting Habits

Bluebirds build their nests in a natural tree cavity, an abandoned woodpecker hole, fence post or in Bird Houses.  They lay 3-8 pale blue eggs depending on the species.  Females are the primary nest builders and do the incubating.  The males feed the females on the nest.  The incubation period is about two weeks and the young are cared for in the nest for another 18-20 days before fledging.

If Bluebirds migrate to your area be prepared for them early.  They are truly the harbingers of spring.  Bluebird Houses for nesting should be in place by late February or early March.

Bluebirds are not territorial in winter and several may roost together in the same box, so leave your bird house up year-round.  Be sure to clean out the box before spring nesting season begins.

Conservation of Bluebirds

As our world becomes more civilized the natural world faces more challenges.  Modernization, urban growth, habitat destruction, plus other man-made and natural environmental challenges have taken a toll.  This leaves no place for cavity nesters to reproduce.

Bluebirds have really suffered from this dilemma, but are also challenged with an additional problem.  They face competition from two introduced bird species ... the European Starling and House Sparrow.  These two species are very aggressive and chase the more timid bluebirds from nesting sites.  The aggressive behavior has seriously affected the bluebirds ability to reproduce.

Since the 1970's there has been a wide-spread conservation movement to help bluebirds make a comeback.  When it was realized that Bluebirds would readily use Bird Houses their fate took a turn for the better.  With help from people Bluebirds are gaining ground aided by Bluebird Houses specifically designed for them.

Dedicated bird lovers around the country are supporting an effort by the North American Bluebird Society which was formed in 1978.   Anyone can participate in their program by putting up a single bird house or by creating a "bluebird trail" of houses.  The Society provides guidelines for Bluebird Houses and their placement.  Monitoring is also part of the plan.

Would you like to help?  The links on this page are offered so you can help and enjoy Bluebirds, too.

If you are in need of ornithologically correct Bird Houses specially designed for Bluebirds, we can happily recommend several.  Here are some details on two of the best available.  One of these Bird Houses is not only the correct size, it has a predator guard to keep starlings, squirrels and other undesirables out.  The small floor discourages sparrow nests.  And be sure not to miss an alternative horizontal-style box that is designed specifically to ecourage nesting and reduce predation.