Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird
 There are 3 species of bluebirds found in North America, the mountain bluebird, the western bluebird and the eastern bluebird. Of the three the eastern bluebird has the greatest range, extending from the east coast to the eastern edges of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. They are found as far north as south eastern Canada and as far south as Central America. In the center of the North America their range overlaps slightly with the mountain bluebird. Both species vie for cavities for nesting with the mountain bluebird mostly dominating the eastern bluebird. It is the male bluebird that find and defends the cavity. He will bring nesting materials to the cavity in order to entice a female but it is all really a charade.
    Eastern Bluebird
It is the female bluebird that actually builds the nest. The female also incubates the eggs alone, although he does help by providing food. Chicks are helpless when they hatch and the female needs to continue to brood them for about another week. The male must bring food for the whole family until the chicks can survive on their own then both parents need to hunt for food. Eastern bluebirds eat primarily insects,fruit and berries. A family will typically raise two broods per year with the second brood often wintering with the parents. Birds in the northern portion of the range migrate south as winter approaches. Often flocks of bluebirds will gather together during the winter to forage. Although in mild years it is not impossible to see eastern bluebirds here in Minnesota during the winter.

12 comments:

DeniseinVA said...

Love reading this post, beautiful little birds!

Melissa said...

Eastern bluebirds are so delightful! I saw my lifer in Texas last spring, and it was such a treat to watch them foraging for their young - the chicks were just about to fledge. So delightful!

Modesto Viegas said...

Good post, great shots!

HansHB said...

Great post! Lovely bird!
Well done!

Roger Owen Green said...

yay, eastern bluebird for your great range
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

mick said...

Beautiful birds. I would love to see one!

Dave said...

Great post, smart bird, and good to read info about them
cheers

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Wanda said...

What lovely little blue birds.

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KristiBowmanDesign said...

Beautiful birds, I was hoping to see some blue birds on my trip to Reno. I got a Scrub Jay but that's as close as I got. Happy to see one too!!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

I have seen the Eastern and the Mountain, but so far not the Western. Your images are quite lovely of these blue beauties!