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.

    

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.