Eastern Bluebird

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Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis

Description:

Size: 6 to 8 inches (16-21 cm)
Wingspan: 10 to 13 inches (25-32 cm)
Weight: .99 to 1.13 ounces (28-32 g)

This is a medium size songbird with a large, round head. Its wings and tail are blue and has a reddish-orange chest.

Diet:

Eats mainly insects and some small fruits. Can be attracted to feeding stations with specialized wooden bird feeders using mealworms. These beautiful birds can also be attracted with water by using bird baths.

Sex Differences:

The male has a blue head, back, tail and wings with a reddish chest. The female has the same color pattern only duller.

Nesting:

Bluebirds build their nests in a natural tree cavity or abandoned woodpecker hole 3 to 20 feet above the ground. The nest is made from grass, plant stems, pine needles, hair and feathers. Breeding pairs will eagerly accept a bluebird bird house as a nesting site. The clutch will contain 3 to 6 eggs and incubation takes 16 to 21 days.

Range:

A Few Things You Probably Didn't Know:

The Eastern Bluebird suffered large population declines until the 1970's. This was due in part to loss of cavity nesting sites. The erection of nest boxes across the country has led to increased bluebird populations in many areas.
The male will attract a female by bringing nest materials to the cavity hole. He then goes in and out and waves his wings while perched above the hole. That is pretty much his contribution to nest building; only the female Eastern Bluebird builds the nest and incubates the eggs.
Bluebirds have more than one successful brood each year. Young birds from early nests usually leave their parents in summer, but young from later nests frequently stay with their parents over the winter.

Click here for more information on attracting an Eastern Bluebird and many other species of wild birds.

Here is some great information on how to choose a bluebird bird house.

Click here for information on other backyard birds.

The Bluebird is the Missouri State Bird.

The Eastern Bluebird is the New York State Bird.