Small thrush — males deep blue with rusty breast and flanks, females grayer. Cavity-nester in old woodpecker holes.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The western bluebird is a small North American thrush.
Source: Wikipedia — Western bluebird Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Male deep blue with a rusty-orange breast and upper back; female grayer with a paler orange wash. Throat is blue (not orange) in the male.
Similar species. Eastern Bluebird has an orange throat and lacks blue on the back/shoulders below; Mountain Bluebird is all blue. The blue throat and rusty shoulder mark Western males.
Voice. A soft, mellow 'few' or 'kew' and a chattering call; song a subdued warble.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects, worms, fruits.
Behavior. A bluebird of western woodlands and oak savanna that hunts insects from low perches and readily takes to nest boxes; family groups may help raise later broods.
§ Range
Western and southwestern US
§ Habitat
Oak woodlands, open conifer forests, suburban yards
§ Threats
Habitat loss, competition with starlings.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the western bluebird is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Install nest boxes. Maintain oak woodlands. Protect dead trees.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Western bluebird
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Sialia mexicana
- IUCN Red List — search for Sialia mexicana
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Sialia mexicana
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
