5
This article was written by
Thomas D. Patrick, President
and Founder of the WindStar
Wildlife Institute, a national,
non-profit, conservation
organization whose mission is
to help individuals and families
establish or improve the
wildlife habitat on their
properties.
For more information or for the
name of a Master Wildlife
Habitat Naturalist in your
area, please contact:
WindStar Wildlife Institute
10072 Vista Court
Myersville, Maryland 21773
Phone: 301-293-3351
E-mail: wildlife@windstar.org
http://www.windstar.org
It is estimated that between
the late 1920’s and the 1970’s,
bluebird populations decreased
90%.
Efforts to save the bluebird by
providing artificial nest boxes to
replace natural nesting sites
have been immensely
successful.
The bluebird belongs in the
thrush family, as do robins and
wood thrushes.
Unique to North America,
there are three species of
bluebirds – the Eastern,
Mountain, and Western. All are
approximately seven inches long.
The Eastern bluebird is the
most common. Its range
extends from the eastern
seaboard west to the Rocky
Mountains.
While adult males are azure
blue with a white belly and red
breast, juveniles have speckled
breasts, like young robins.
The Mountain bluebird spots
the same intense blue feathers
above, but its breast and belly
are a light blue.
As their name implies,
Mountain bluebirds are found at
elevations above 5,000 feet as
far up as 10,000
to 12,000 feet –
just below the
timberline. Their
range stretches
from the Pacific
coast east
through and
somewhat past
the Rockies and
from the Mexican
border north to
Alaska.
The Western bluebird is the
least abundant of the three
species. Its markings are very
similar to its eastern cousin. It,
too, has a red breast but a blue
throat and rusty back.
It’s found west of the Rockies
and from the Canadian border
south to the Mexican border.
Bluebird populations
declined because of habitat
destruction, loss of nesting
sites and the introduction of
the European starling and the
English house sparrow.
Like all birds, bluebirds need
water for bathing and drinking.
A bird bath situated in the
open to allow the birds to watch
for enemies is ideal.
Bluebirds eat insects and
fruit. Don’t use lawn chemicals
if you want bluebirds. In the
spring and summer, insects are
their primary food. And insects
are the only thing the young eat
until they are almost ready to
leave the nest.
There are special feeders on
the market designed for
bluebirds that hold insects,
such as mealworms, where the
bluebird flies inside to feed.
Bluebirds love berries which
are critical to their survival in
the winter when insects are
unavailable.
Bluebirds
Sialia siaois (Eastern)
Sialia mexicana (Western)
Sialia currucoides (Mountain)
At least one of the species –
Eastern bluebird, Mountain
bluebird and Western
bluebird – live in every state
except Hawaii.
Elderberry,
dogwood, blueberry,
mulberry, cherry, viburum,
Russian olive and Autumn
olive provide food in the
summer and autumn months.
Bittersweet, holly,
pyracantha, sumac, mountain
ash, red cedar, and hawthorn
are good sources for food in
the winter.
Given the relative tameness
of bluebirds, their melodic
song and breathtaking beauty,
bluebirds have earned the love
and loyalty so many people
lavish on them.
