Eastern Bluebird

About The Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis, commonly known as the Eastern bluebird, is also known as the blue robin or the blue redbreast characterizing the bird’s appearance of a bright royal blue back and a rusty-colored breast. The bird’s color differs with gender and age. Females appear paler than the males, and juveniles can be distinguished by gray crown and back with spotted underparts. These birds are often recognized by their distinctive “chun-wi” call that is used to locate the singer, often perched on a fencepost or powerline. The size of an adult bluebird is about 6.5 to 7.5 inches including the tail.

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The Eastern Bluebird Nesting Preferences

Eastern bluebirds often nests in woodpecker-excavated cavities. The nests are built using grasses, weed stems, pine needles, twigs, and occasionally hair or feathers. The nest is built in an average of 10 to 11 days both by male and female. Pairs begin nesting by choosing a natural cavity or an abandoned woodpecker hole in a post or tree, or perhaps a man-made nesting box. Bluebirds nest March through August. Female birds lay about 3 to 7 eggs, occasionally white and unmarked with 0.8 inches in size. Eggs are incubated for 13 to 16 days. Normally, this bird species produces 2 broods per year.
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Building a Birdhouse For The Eastern Bluebird

Backyard birds like Eastern bluebirds find birdhouses with a 4 inches x 4 inches floor suitable. Dimensions are preferably 12½” in height x 6” wide x 8½” in diameter. The entrance hole should be ½” in diameter placed just below or in front of the nest box. Nest boxes should be protected with an anti-predator device to ward off predators and competing animals. These boxes should be mounted at least 51” above the ground on smooth round poles, and are best placed near old field borders adjacent to short grasses, highway rights-of-way, orchards, golf courses and parks where bluebirds are normally seen.
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The Eastern Bluebird Mating Habits

Eastern Bluebirds are monogamous. They form a pair and work together to rear their young. These birds usually breed in forest edges, burned or cutover woodland, open country with scattered trees. The male courts the female as it sings and flutters in front of the female with its wings half open, tail spread as it perches beside and preens its pair. As it courts, it may also offer food for the female.
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The Eastern Bluebird Feeding Preferences

Eastern Bluebird The bluebird is fond of eating insects, making it a most welcome visitor to gardens in summer. During winter, bluebirds eat fruits (especially berries) and seeds. Aside from insects and fruits, its diet also includes earthworms, snails and other invertebrates. Young birds are fed primarily with insects as the adults catch them from low perch near the ground. Males continue to feed the fledglings until the young become self-sufficient.
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Interesting Eastern Bluebird Facts

The Eastern bluebird is very devoted to its family, as befits a symbol of happiness. These birds are best seen at an area where an old field comes together with an area of short grasses. They often roost singly or in small groups in nest boxes.
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Readers Comments

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Will Smith 11/30/2006)
This is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo awesome. Also so r the birds

Rick Gold 3/13/2007)
this is a great site. thanks.

D.R. Wallgren 3/21/2007)
Rockville, MD March 21.Our first sighting of a pair of bluebirds at our feeder,they were eating suet and hearts of sunflower seeds.We are going to put up a bluebird box and hope they spend the summer here.

susan smith 3/22/2007)
bluebird house hole diameter should be one half inch? thats weird. i just read other birdhouse specs, and less than an inch doesnt seem right!

Ann Wick 3/24/2007)
What is your source of information? There is NO WAY an Eastern Bluebird could enter a nestbox with a 1/2 inch opening?

Trudy Pischer 3/25/2007)
A wren could possibly fit into a 1/2 inch entry hole, but I think youve got a major typo here!

Pokie E 5/6/2007)
Know what youre doing if you want to encourage bluebirds in your yard! If you dont have time or the equipment (nesting boxes accompanied with predator guards) to prevent predators (cats are worse than any) then admire their beauty but shun them; youre doing them a favor..

Anonmyous Anonmyous 12/14/2007)
I checked on the web and the entrance hole should be 1 1/2 inches!!

sam ryan 3/6/2008)
i hate birds!!

Paul 5/25/2016)
Note While building your Eastern Bluebird house, be sure to make the entrance hole 1.5 inches in diameter...not 1/2" as stated in this article.

Birdhouses 101 - Eastern Bluebird

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