A stunning western bluebird — males pure sky-blue, females blue-gray. Hovers more than other bluebirds while hunting insects.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The mountain bluebird is a migratory small thrush that is found in mountainous districts of western North America. It has a light underbelly and black eyes. Adult males have thin bills and are bright turquoise-blue and somewhat lighter underneath. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, grey breast, grey crown, throat and back. In fresh fall plumage, the female's throat and breast are tinged with red-orange which is brownish near the flank, contrasting with white tail underparts. Their call is a thin 'few' while their song is a warbled high 'chur chur'. The mountain bluebird is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada. This bird is an omnivore and it can live 6 to 10 years in the wild. It eats spiders, grasshoppers, flies and other insects, and small fruits. The mountain bluebird is a relative of the eastern and western bluebirds.
Source: Wikipedia — Mountain bluebird Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Male sky-blue all over, palest on the belly; female gray-brown with blue tinges in the wings and tail. Slim, with a thin bill and long wings.
Similar species. Western and Eastern bluebirds have rusty breasts; the male Mountain Bluebird's all-blue body and the species' frequent hovering are distinctive.
Voice. A soft, warbling 'few' and a low, mellow 'chur'; song a clear warble at dawn.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects, worms, fruits.
Behavior. A bluebird of high western meadows and rangeland that frequently hovers while hunting insects, dropping to the ground to seize prey; readily uses nest boxes.
§ Range
Western North American mountains
§ Habitat
Open coniferous forests, mountain meadows
§ Threats
Habitat loss, competition with starlings and house sparrows for cavities.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the mountain bluebird is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Install nest boxes in open western habitats. Skip pesticides.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Mountain bluebird
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Sialia currucoides
- IUCN Red List — search for Sialia currucoides
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Sialia currucoides
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
