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Archives » Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

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Nest Cavities - Book Early

Swallows and bluebirds — like this Western Bluebird — are among the earliest northbound migrants to arrive, heralding spring a month before the equinox. Both species will nest only in cavities, such as old woodpecker holes or man-made nestboxes. But the supply of specialized nest sites is limited... read more »

RELATED
Topics & Themes:  nesting
Related bird:  Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana), Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Why Are Bluebirds Blue?

Why are bluebirds blue? Unlike many other bird colors, blue is not a pigment but a color produced by the structure of the feathers. Tiny air pockets and melanin pigment crystals in each feather scatter blue light and absorb the other wavelengths. The even finer structure of the feather gathers... read more »

RELATED
Topics & Themes:  science
Related bird:  Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides), Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

Birds Return with the Light

Winter's weak light is finally beginning to strengthen, and some birds, long absent, have begun their journeys north. Tree Swallows, such as this one, phoebes, bluebirds, and more return with the light. So be of good cheer, the birds and spring are coming back. You can learn more about this... read more »

RELATED
Topics & Themes:  migration, vocalization
Related bird:  Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana), Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya), Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Rita Shultz - Friend to Bluebirds

Rita Shultz, a rural mail carrier outside of Richmond, Virginia, says, "Every person's yard is an important bird area!" When Rita discovered that Eastern Bluebirds were nesting in some of the newspaper delivery boxes on her route – and that many customers were throwing the nests out – she went... read more »

RELATED
Topics & Themes:  environmental champion
Related bird:  Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Voices and Vocabularies - Eastern Bluebirds

A male Eastern Bluebird stands on a wooden nestbox attached to a fence post. The bluebird’s song – and his alert presence - assert his claim to this territory. In the mid-20th Century, the numbers of bluebirds in the Northeast declined to the lowest level ever, due largely to nesting... read more »

RELATED
Topics & Themes:  birdwatching by ear, sound
Related bird:  Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Restoring Prairies for Grassland Birds

Thanks to Tom Vanderpoel and Citizens For Conservation, grassland birds like this Eastern Meadowlark are benefiting from expanded habitat in northeast Illinois, where volunteers are restoring native prairies. In autumn, volunteers collect seeds from restored grasslands. In spring, they scatter... read more »

RELATED
Topics & Themes:  environmental champion
Related bird:  Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna), Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Robert Otto Loves Bluebirds

For 30 years, Robert Otto (pictured here) has been putting up nest boxes for bluebirds near his home in northern Michigan. A retired mechanical engineer, Robert has designed and built nest boxes that are easy to maintain and make it simple to check for eggs and fledglings. There are now 101 nest... read more »

RELATED
Topics & Themes:  environmental champion, nesting
Related bird:  Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Clean Nestboxes in October

It’s a beautiful moment when your backyard birds — like these Black-capped Chickadees — depart their nestboxes. By October, it’s time for one last duty as nestbox landlord: to clean it out. Cleaning will reduce the incidence of parasites in the box and make it more inviting to next spring’s... read more »

RELATED
Topics & Themes:  nesting
Related bird:  Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana), Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
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Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

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A Male Eastern Bluebird Singing

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Bluebird Impressions

Bluebird Impressions

Webcams and videos are hosted by third parties. In exchange, you may periodically see 30-second advertisements. BirdNote does not endorse any of the products, services, or causes on third-party pages. All webcams have seasonal changes and may be down for hours, weeks, or months at a time. If this one is not active, please check our video or webcam gallery for more.

Pair of Eastern Bluebirds

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Male Eastern Bluebird fledgling enjoying his bath

Male Eastern Bluebird fledgling enjoying his bath

Webcams and videos are hosted by third parties. In exchange, you may periodically see 30-second advertisements. BirdNote does not endorse any of the products, services, or causes on third-party pages. All webcams have seasonal changes and may be down for hours, weeks, or months at a time. If this one is not active, please check our video or webcam gallery for more.

Male Eastern Bluebird Fledgling Enjoying a Bath

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Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebird

Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebird

Webcams and videos are hosted by third parties. In exchange, you may periodically see 30-second advertisements. BirdNote does not endorse any of the products, services, or causes on third-party pages. All webcams have seasonal changes and may be down for hours, weeks, or months at a time. If this one is not active, please check our video or webcam gallery for more.

Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebird

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