"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.)
The mountain
bluebird is a summer resident in Utah and nests
throughout the state. The western bluebird summers
in the Utah "panhandle" and migrates throughout
most of the state. 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.
Male western bluebird
Red = summer range,
Green = year-around, Blue = winter range
Male mountain 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:
In Utah nesting can commence early spring and can
continue well into the summer. One or two broods is
typical for both species. The eggs are a pale blue.
A typical clutch size is 4-6 eggs.
If you are managing
a bluebird house, watch for house sparrows trying
to use the next box and immediately remove any
house sparrow nesting material.
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.
