Eastern Bluebird

Eastern bluebird

Eastern Bluebirds are small thrushes with big, rounded heads, large eyes, and big bellies.

The males are deep blue on the back and a reddish color underneath. Females are grayer above with some blue in the wings and tail and a less vivid orange-brown breast.

  • Sialia sialis
  • Length: 6. 3 -8.3 in (16 – 21 cm)
  • Weight: 1.0 – 1.1 oz (28 – 32 g)
  • Wingspan: 9.8 – 12.6 in (25 – 32 cm)

Range

They live all year in southeastern US states, but those that breed in the northern US and southern Canada migrate south.

Habitat And Diet

You can find Eastern Bluebirds in meadows, and they can often be spotted perched on wires and posts or low branches, looking for insects. While they may have originally resided in open, mature woods and forest openings, today they’re commonly found in agricultural fields, suburban parks, backyards, and golf courses.

Eastern Bluebirds mainly eat insects that are caught on the ground. They love caterpillars, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and spiders. During the winter, they eat fruit like blueberries, currants, honeysuckle, and juniper berries.

Eastern Bluebird Song:

Nests

Nests of Eastern Bluebirds are often built in natural tree cavities, like old woodpecker holes in dead pine and oak trees. They may also be attracted to nest in nest boxes. The female builds the nest using grasses and pine needles lined with horse hair or turkey feathers.

In it, she’ll lay two to seven eggs that will incubate for eleven to nineteen days.

Attract Eastern Bluebirds

Attract them to your backyard by offering mealworms and nest boxes if your yard is pretty open and spacious.

Fun Fact:

Male Eastern Bluebirds don’t really contribute much to nest building and child-rearing. But, they will bring nest materials to nesting cavities and wave their wings above them in an attempt to attract females.