Bluebirds are affable members of the thrush family named for their coloration. There are three species of bluebirds native to North America, each with a different coloration, range, and habitat preferences.
Eastern Bluebird
Identification
Male Eastern Bluebirds have a sky blue back, wings, tail, and head. They have a reddish orange chest and underside as well as a very faint eye ring. Females have a grayish colored head with blue wings and a darker orange underside with a more noticeable eye ring. Both males and females have white on their underside near their legs.
Range
Eastern Bluebirds live year-round in parts of Mexico, Central America, and the Southeastern United States. In summer, many of them move north into the Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Habits
The diet of Eastern Bluebird varies depending on the time of the year. When insects are available, they make up an extremely large part of their diet. Other times of the year this species eats an array of fruits.
Where to Find This Bird
Eastern Bluebirds can be found around open spaces near edge habitat. Prairies, fields, and pastures are all places where this species can be found regularly in addition to more forested areas as well as around ponds.
Mountain Bluebird
Identification
Male Mountain Bluebirds are bright blue with a white under-tail, and lighter coloration on their lower underside. Females are blueish gray with brighter blue on their tail and wings. Both males and females have a light eye ring.
Range
Mountain Bluebirds are a species of Western North America with a wintering range that dips into Mexico, and a summertime range that reaches into the heart of Alaska. They can be found year round in states such as California, Utah, and Nevada, among others.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Mountain Bluebirds are mostly insectivorous and eat a variety of small invertebrates including grasshoppers, caterpillars, and spiders. They will also eat berries and other fruits including those of sumac and mistletoe.
Where to Find This Bird
Mountain Bluebirds can be found in open spaces such as the edges of prairies and fields. They can also be found in higher elevation places such as mountainsides and coniferous woodlands.
Western Bluebird
Identification
Male Western Bluebirds have a deep blue color on their head, wings, and tail. They have burnt orange on their chest, sides, and back just behind the neck. Females are blueish gray with brighter blue on the wings and tail. They have lighter orange on the chest and sides. Both males and females have an eye ring but females have an eye ring that is more noticeable.
Range
Western Bluebirds have two operate ranges in North America. One population spans from Mexico to the very southern portion of Colorado. Another population resides in Baja California all the way up to Southwestern Canada. Some birds in both populations stay in the same area year round while others move north for the breeding months.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Much of the Western Bluebird’s diet consist of insects and spiders. However, they will also eat certain types of fruits including blackberries, raspberries, chokecherries, and more.
Where to Find This Bird
Western Bluebirds live in conifer and mixed conifer woodlands including pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine habitats. They are most comfortable in woodlands that are more open and have no qualms about living in ares that have been cleared or burned. This species can also be found along forest edges.
Summary
Bluebirds are typically birds that people are happy to see and happy to have in their yards. Knowing more about the species that are expected in your area can be instrumental in finding and identifying them. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some questions about the bluebirds of North America.
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