Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis

Eastern bluebird
facts and life history information:
- American Ornithologists' Union Common Name: Eastern Bluebird
- Family: Turdidae, Thrushes
- Scientific name: Sialia sialis
- Length: 7" (18 cm)
- Diet: Insects, fruit, earthworms, snails, other
invertebrates; especially berries. Young fed primarily insects.
Hawking often from low perch, catching insects near ground. Very
dependent on berries in winter.
- Voice:
Listen to Eastern Bluebird Song (recorded by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, courtesy of Macaulay Library)
Song - A pleasing soft phrase of mellow whitstles
chiti WEEW wewidoo and variations. Call of similar pleasant
musical quality: a soft, husky whistle jeew or jeew wiwi;
also a short, dry chatter.
- Habitat: Found in open woodlands, farmslands,
orchards.
- Displays: Courting male sings and flutters in front of
female, wings half open, tail spread, then perches beside and preens
female, and may offer food.
- Number of broods: 2, occasionally 3.
- Nest: Often in woodpecker-excavated cavity; loose
cup of grass, weed stems, pine needles, twigs, occasionally with hair
or feathers. Built in average of 10-11 days. Female occasionally
builds more than one nest.
- Eggs: Averages 4-5 pale blue, occasionally white,
unmarked eggs. 0.8" (21 mm).
- Incubation period: 12-14 days
- Fledge: 15-20 days after hatching
- Longevity Record: 10 Years and 5 months (according to USGS
Bird Banding Lab).
Thanks to organizations such as the
North American Bluebird Society, Eastern
Bluebird populations are making a comeback.
You can help by building and erecting bluebird nesting boxes as a way to
supplement natural nesting cavities.
Specific bluebird house designs:
We highly recommend the Stokes Complete Guide to Attracting Bluebirds
.
It is a great comprehensive book that not only covers how to attract bluebirds,
but complete life history information and fantastic bluebird photos as well.
The book covers not only the Eastern Bluebird, but the Mountain and Western
Bluebird as well.
It discusses nest boxes, landscaping for bluebirds, feeders,
monitoring boxes, bluebird behavior and more.
Related Eastern Bluebird Pages:
Bluebird house plans - Several easy-to-build bluebird nest box plans.
Bluebird House Plans #2
- Birdhouse plans designed to keep bluebird eggs and nestlings cool on hot
summer days.
Eastern Bluebird State Bird - The Eastern Bluebird is the state bird of
Missouri and New York.
Photo of female Eastern Bluebird courtesy of
Dolan on flickr.
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