"The bluebird is
well named, for he wears a coat of the purest,
richest, and most gorgeous blue on back, wings, and
tail; no North American bird better deserves the
name, for no other flashes before our admiring eyes
so much brilliant blue. It has been said that he
carries on his back the blue of heaven and the rich
brown of the freshly turned earth on his breast;
but who has ever seen the bluest sky as blue as the
bluebird's back?" (Quote describing the eastern
bluebird from the Arthur Cleveland Bent series on
the Birds of North America.)
All three species
of bluebirds can be found in New Mexico. Both the
western and mountain bluebirds nest in the state
with populations of both species increasing in the
winter as birds from further north migrate into the
state for the winter. An isolated resident
population of eastern bluebirds can be found in the
very far southwest corner of the state. Eastern
bluebirds also migrate into the eastern half of the
state in the winter.
Bluebirds are
usually found in fields, open woodlands, parks or
along golf courses or other open areas, including
suburban locations with open spaces and scattered
tress. In the mountains they are found in clearings
and meadows. The
mountain bluebird is well known for its hovering
flight as it hawks for insects. The eastern
bluebird has a musical flight call that often
reveals its presence.
Male western bluebird
Red = summer range,
Green = year-around, Blue = winter range
Male mountain bluebird
Red = summer range,
Green = year-around, Blue = winter range
Male eastern bluebird
Red = summer range,
Green = year-around, Blue = winter
range
In
The Backyard:
Bluebirds can be attracted to peanut butter mixes,
suet and fruit. Raisins soaked in hot water to
soften them are well received. The bluebird's
special favorite is mealworms.
Nesting:
All three species of bluebirds nest in New Mexico,
although the nesting range of the eastern bluebird
is very limited. One, two and sometimes three
broods may be produced in a single year. Clutch
sizes vary slightly between the species. The
mountain bluebird averages 4 - 6 eggs, the eastern
bluebird 3 - 5 eggs and the western bluebird closer
to 5 or 6. Eggs are pale blue or rarely
white.
If you manage a
bluebird house watch for house sparrows trying to
use the next box and immediately remove any house
sparrow nesting material.
Here's a colorful
quote on eastern bluebird courtship, also from the
Bent series.
The love-making of the bluebird is as beautiful as
the bird itself, and normally as gentle, unless
interrupted by some jealous rival who would steal
his bride; then gentleness gives place to active
combat. The male usually arrives a few days ahead
of the female, selects what he considers to be a
suitable summer home, and carols his sweetest, most
seductive notes day after day until she appears in
answer to his call. Then he flutters before her,
displaying the charms of his widespread tail and
half-opened wings, warbling in delicious, soft
undertones, to win her favor. At first she seems
indifferent to the gorgeous blue of his overcoat or
the warm reddish brown of his ardent breast. He
perches beside her, caresses her in the tenderest
and most loving fashion, and sings to her in most
endearing terms. Perhaps he may bring to her some
delicious morsel and place it gently in her mouth,
as an offering. Probably he has already chosen the
cavity or box that he thinks will suit her; lie
leads her to it, looks in, and tries to persuade
her to accept it, but much persistent wooing is
needed before the nuptial pact is sealed. In the
meantime a rival male may appear upon the scene and
a rough and tumble fight ensue, the males clinching
in the air and falling to the ground together, a
confusing mass of blue and brown feathers
struggling in the grass; but no very serious harm
seems to have been done, as they separate and use
their most persuasive charms to attract the object
of their rivalry. At times, a second female may
join in the contest and start a lively fight with
her rival for the mate she wants. John Burroughs
(1894) gives an interesting account of such a
four-cornered contest, too long to be quoted here,
in which the female of an apparently mated pair
seemed to waver in her affections between her
supposed mate and the new rival; and the latter
seemed to have left the female of his first choice
to win the bride of the other. However, after a
much prolonged contest, the matter seemed to be
satisfactorily settled, for two pairs of bluebirds
finally flew off in different directions and
started up housekeeping without further
trouble.
Visit the main
Birdzilla.com
Web site
for information nest boxes and management, bluebird
trails, range maps and much more on these popular
birds. The Sam's
Guide to Bluebirds
CD-ROM and DVD provides complete information on
bluebird trails, boxes, care and feeding and a
whole lot more.
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