Bluebird Facts

Male and Female Bluebirds

Bluebird House

Bluebirds are one of North America's most beloved birds, and one of many songbirds that have suffered declining populations. Bluebirds have been severely affected both by the urbanization of North America, and the introduction of Starlings and Sparrows to our country. Bluebirds are secondary cavity nesters, which means that they are not capable of creating their own cavities for dwelling, but instead must find cavities to live in. With the clearing out of forests and farmlands to make room for malls, subdivisions, and business canters, the removal of dead trees and use of pesticides in orchards, along with the trend to use vinyl and steel fencing instead of wood, bluebirds have lost many of the natural nesting environments that were once so readily available. The European Starlings and House Sparrows are aggressive birds who will attack and destroy bluebirds and their eggs and young in order to claim their nesting environment. It is absolutely imperative that the hole openings for a Bluebird House be exact to prevent starlings from accessing the bird house. Sparrows can be kept away by adding a second bluebird house either back to back or within 5 feet of the original bluebird house. This will often lead to each species of bird nesting at peace within their own house.

Bluebird Diet

Platform
Bird Feeder

Bluebirds can be found throughout the entire Unites States, with the exception of Hawaii. Bluebirds are also found in certain parts of Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. It is not uncommon for some bluebirds to stick the winter out, although many will travel southwards in order to find food and warmth. Bluebirds are insectivores, and will eat insects, worms, small spiders, grasshoppers, and crickets. Wildlife such as poison ivy, mistletoe, pokeweed, and berry bushes are the less preferred food for bluebirds, but they will use these to survive when insects are not available. Bluebirds will also eat raisins soaked in water, and mealworms. If you would like to offer food for your bluebirds, in addition to planting trees and shrubs that bear fruit, Platform Bird Feeders are a good option. Bluebirds will feed off platforms, and also like to eat off the ground.

Bluebird Habitat - Eastern Bluebird

The three species of bluebirds that can be found in the U.S. are the Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird, and Mountain Bluebird. The Eastern Bluebird resides east of the Rocky Mountains and is the most likely to head south in the winter, with heavy snow and freezing ice storms covering most of their winter food supplies. The Eastern Bluebird is smaller, and the majority of Bluebird Houses are sized for this bird. Hole openings should be 1-1/2" or 1-3/8" in diameter to keep Eastern Bluebirds safe, and houses accessible. Eastern and Western Bluebirds are similar in appearance, with the male's head, back, wings and tail bright blue, and the breast and sides are rusty. The Eastern Bluebird also has a rusty throat, but the Western Bluebird's throat is blue, and the rusty underside spreads from the breast and sides to the upper back. Females are similar in appearance, but duller and more gray in color. The eggs of both birds range in numbers from 3 - 8, although 4 - 6 is more common, and are pale blue without any markings.

Bluebird Habitat - Western and Mountain Bluebird

The Western and Mountain Bluebirds can often be found nesting on the same trails, since their regions overlap. The Western Bluebird lives in the western parts of North America, and the Mountain Bluebirds lives primarily in the Rocky Mountain region. In areas where they are living together, the larger hole opening of 1-9/16" must be used to permit access by both birds, but it is very important not to cut the hole any larger, or starlings will gain access and destroy the bluebirds and their young. The Mountain Bluebird likes high elevations but can be found at low elevations, and the male is almost completely blue with the exception of a white belly, and the female is mostly gray with a touch of blue in her tail feathers and wings. The Mountain Bluebird lays 4 - 8 larger, paler blue eggs.

Bluebird Houses

Wooden
Bluebird House

Bluebirds will return to their northern habitats in March and early April, so bird houses should be cleaned and repaired by then. Bluebird houses should not only have hole openings of specific dimensions, but the holes should be jagged and rough so that nestlings can grip onto the hole when taking their first steps out of the birdhouse. You can create grippers by simply using a sharp edge to scratch the surface. Bird houses should be spaced 100 - 300 yards apart when creating a bluebird trail, as bluebirds are territorial and do not want to nest too closely. The only exception in spacing your houses is when the object is to keep sparrows away, and give them their own nest. Bluebird houses should be lighter in color for hot climates to keep from elevating the interior temperature, and and wood is ideal, but plywood and cedar are best. A 3" roof overhang will provide shade, and a 5" overhang will prevent predators such as cats and raccoons from being able to easily reach inside. Ventilation and drainage is key for survival, especially for the young, so be sure to create additional drainage holes if your house does not have enough. Perches encourage sparrows and predators, so do not choose a bluebird house with a perch. Thicker wood boards will help keep the nest warmer in the cold, and cooler in the heat. Our Rustic Bluebird Houses are ideal for years of use and offer styles including a Winter Roost and Mountain Bluebird House.

Bluebird Nesting

Set your bluebird houses with the openings facing away from direct sunlight, and with the hole facing a tree or shrub for young bluebirds to practice flying to. Heavily woody areas should be avoided because wrens can be found there, and will try to gain access to the house. Once the male as attracted a female to his nesting location, through methods including singing, showing his extensive blue colors, and placing nesting materials close to the opening, the female will complete the nest and lay her eggs. Eastern Bluebirds will build as many as three nests and lay eggs a season, so once the fledglings have flown away for good, the birdhouse should be opened and cleaned out. The female will rebuild her nest and lay another round of eggs. The incubation period for bluebird eggs si about two weeks, and the nestlings are ready to leave the nest within 18-20 days from hatching.

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With the clearing out of forests and farmlands to make room for malls, subdivisions, and business canters, the removal of dead trees and use of pesticides in orchards, along with the trend to use vinyl and steel fencing instead of wood, bluebirds have lost many of the natural nesting environments that were once so readily available. The European Starlings and House Sparrows are aggressive birds who will attack and destroy bluebirds and their eggs and young in order to claim their nesting environment. It is absolutely imperative that the hole openings for a Bluebird House be exact to prevent starlings from accessing the bird house. Sparrows can be kept away by adding a second bluebird house either back to back or within 5 feet of the original bluebird house. This will often lead to each species of bird nesting at peace within their own house. Bluebird Diet Platform Bird Feeder Bluebirds can be found throughout the entire Unites States, with the exception of Hawaii. Bluebirds are also found in certain parts of Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. It is not uncommon for some bluebirds to stick the winter out, although many will travel southwards in order to find food and warmth. Bluebirds are insectivores, and will eat insects, worms, small spiders, grasshoppers, and crickets. Wildlife such as poison ivy, mistletoe, pokeweed, and berry bushes are the less preferred food for bluebirds, but they will use these to survive when insects are not available. Bluebirds will also eat raisins soaked in water, and mealworms. If you would like to offer food for your bluebirds, in addition to planting trees and shrubs that bear fruit, Platform Bird Feeders are a good option. Bluebirds will feed off platforms, and also like to eat off the ground. Bluebird Habitat - Eastern Bluebird The three species of bluebirds that can be found in the U.S. are the Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird, and Mountain Bluebird. The Eastern Bluebird resides east of the Rocky Mountains and is the most likely to head south in the winter, with heavy snow and freezing ice storms covering most of their winter food supplies. The Eastern Bluebird is smaller, and the majority of Bluebird Houses are sized for this bird. Hole openings should be 1-1/2" or 1-3/8" in diameter to keep Eastern Bluebirds safe, and houses accessible. Eastern and Western Bluebirds are similar in appearance, with the male's head, back, wings and tail bright blue, and the breast and sides are rusty. The Eastern Bluebird also has a rusty throat, but the Western Bluebird's throat is blue, and the rusty underside spreads from the breast and sides to the upper back. Females are similar in appearance, but duller and more gray in color. The eggs of both birds range in numbers from 3 - 8, although 4 - 6 is more common, and are pale blue without any markings. Bluebird Habitat - Western and Mountain Bluebird The Western and Mountain Bluebirds can often be found nesting on the same trails, since their regions overlap. The Western Bluebird lives in the western parts of North America, and the Mountain Bluebirds lives primarily in the Rocky Mountain region. In areas where they are living together, the larger hole opening of 1-9/16" must be used to permit access by both birds, but it is very important not to cut the hole any larger, or starlings will gain access and destroy the bluebirds and their young. The Mountain Bluebird likes high elevations but can be found at low elevations, and the male is almost completely blue with the exception of a white belly, and the female is mostly gray with a touch of blue in her tail feathers and wings. The Mountain Bluebird lays 4 - 8 larger, paler blue eggs. Bluebird Houses Wooden Bluebird House Bluebirds will return to their northern habitats in March and early April, so bird houses should be cleaned and repaired by then. Bluebird houses should not only have hole openings of specific dimensions, but the holes should be jagged and rough so that nestlings can grip onto the hole when taking their first steps out of the birdhouse. You can create grippers by simply using a sharp edge to scratch the surface. Bird houses should be spaced 100 - 300 yards apart when creating a bluebird trail, as bluebirds are territorial and do not want to nest too closely. The only exception in spacing your houses is when the object is to keep sparrows away, and give them their own nest. Bluebird houses should be lighter in color for hot climates to keep from elevating the interior temperature, and and wood is ideal, but plywood and cedar are best. A 3" roof overhang will provide shade, and a 5" overhang will prevent predators such as cats and raccoons from being able to easily reach inside. Ventilation and drainage is key for survival, especially for the young, so be sure to create additional drainage holes if your house does not have enough. Perches encourage sparrows and predators, so do not choose a bluebird house with a perch. Thicker wood boards will help keep the nest warmer in the cold, and cooler in the heat. Our Rustic Bluebird Houses are ideal for years of use and offer styles including a Winter Roost and Mountain Bluebird House. Bluebird Nesting Set your bluebird houses with the openings facing away from direct sunlight, and with the hole facing a tree or shrub for young bluebirds to practice flying to. Heavily woody areas should be avoided because wrens can be found there, and will try to gain access to the house. Once the male as attracted a female to his nesting location, through methods including singing, showing his extensive blue colors, and placing nesting materials close to the opening, the female will complete the nest and lay her eggs. Eastern Bluebirds will build as many as three nests and lay eggs a season, so once the fledglings have flown away for good, the birdhouse should be opened and cleaned out. The female will rebuild her nest and lay another round of eggs. The incubation period for bluebird eggs si about two weeks, and the nestlings are ready to leave the nest within 18-20 days from hatching.
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