Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialisOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Thrushes (Turdidae)

General

Eastern Bluebird: Small thrush with bright blue upperparts, rust-brown throat and breast, and white belly and vent. Female is similar but much duller. Juvenile has gray-brown upperparts, white spots on back, brown breast with white scaling, white belly and eye ring, and blue-tinged wings and tail.

Range and Habitat

Eastern Bluebird: Breeds east of Rockies from southeast Canada to Gulf of Mexico; winters in southern portion of breeding range. Inhabits open woodlands, clearings, farmlands, parks, orchards, gardens, fields; often seen along roadsides on utility wires and fences.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"turee", "queedle"

Interesting Facts

When approached by a predator, male Eastern Bluebirds make a song-like warning cry. If a male is not present, a female will begin to sing, hoping to attract a protective male back to the territory.

Their numbers have declined due to competition from starlings and house sparrows for nest sites.

Clutch size varies with latitude and longitude, with bluebirds farther north and farther west having larger clutches.

A group of thrushes are collectively known as a "hermitage" and a "mutation" of thrushes.

Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird: Small thrush with bright blue upperparts, rust-brown throat and breast, and white belly and vent. Forages in the open from low branches for insects, earthworms, and spiders. Eats mostly berries and seeds in winter. Slow, direct flight with shallow, jerky wing beats.

● Song: "turee", "queedle"

● Foraging & Feeding: Eastern Bluebird: Feeds on insects, earthworms, snails, and other invertebrates, and is highly dependent upon berries during winter; forages from low perches, usually hawking insects.

● Breeding & nesting: Eastern Bluebird: Four to six light blue or white eggs are laid in a loose cup of grass and plant stems built in a natural tree cavity, old woodpecker hole, fence post or bird box; 2 to 50 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Eastern Bluebird: Western Bluebird has gray throat and belly. Female Western Bluebird has a rust-brown tinge on nape and back.

Flight Pattern

Slow flight with shallow wing beats.

● Range & Habitat: Eastern Bluebird: Breeds east of Rockies from southeast Canada to Gulf of Mexico; winters in southern portion of breeding range. Inhabits open woodlands, clearings, farmlands, parks, orchards, gardens, fields; often seen along roadsides on utility wires and fences.

^BreedingMonogamous, Pairs

^PopulationFairly common in range

^MigrationSome migrate

^Weight1.1 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America