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Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialisOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Thrushes (Turdidae)
Codes: Common Name: EABL Scientific Name: SIASIA ITIS Taxonomic No.: 179801
Least Concern
 
Eastern Bluebird: The breeding male Eastern Bluebird has bright blue upperparts, a rust-brown throat and breast, and a white belly and vent.
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Overview

Eastern Bluebird: Small thrush with bright blue upperparts, rust-brown throat and breast, and white belly and vent. Forages in the open from low branches for insects, earthworms, and spiders. Eats mostly berries and seeds in winter. Slow, direct flight with shallow, jerky wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Eastern Bluebird: Breeds east of Rockies from southeast Canada to Gulf of Mexico; winters in southern portion of breeding range. Inhabits open woodlands, clearings, farmlands, parks, orchards, gardens, fields; often seen along roadsides on utility wires and fences.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

"turee" or "queedle"

Interesting Facts

 When approached by a predator, male Eastern Bluebirds make a song-like warning cry. If a male is not present, a female will begin to sing, hoping to attract a protective male back to the territory.

 Their numbers have declined due to competition from starlings and house sparrows for nest sites.

 Clutch size varies with latitude and longitude, with bluebirds farther north and farther west having larger clutches.

 A group of thrushes are collectively known as "a hermitage of thrushes", and a "mutation of thrushes."


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Splitbar
Range Map for Eastern Bluebird

Related Birds

Western Bluebird
Varied Thrush
American Robin
Mountain Bluebird
Red-flanked Bluetail
Townsend's Solitaire
.
Family Thrush (Turdidae)_blue
Species Sialia sialis
Length7 - 7.75 Inches
Wingspan12.25 Inches

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird: Small thrush with bright blue upperparts, rust-brown throat and breast, and white belly and vent. Forages in the open from low branches for insects, earthworms, and spiders. Eats mostly berries and seeds in winter. Slow, direct flight with shallow, jerky wing beats.

● Song: "turee" or "queedle"

● Foraging & Feeding: Eastern Bluebird: Feeds on insects, earthworms, snails, and other invertebrates, and is highly dependent upon berries during winter; forages from low perches, usually hawking insects.

● Breeding & nesting: Eastern Bluebird: Four to six light blue or white eggs are laid in a loose cup of grass and plant stems built in a natural tree cavity, old woodpecker hole, fence post or bird box; 2 to 50 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Eastern Bluebird: Western Bluebird has gray throat and belly. Female Western Bluebird has a rust-brown tinge on nape and back.

Flight Pattern

Slow flight with shallow wing beats.
Eastern Bluebird Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Eastern Bluebird: Breeds east of Rockies from southeast Canada to Gulf of Mexico; winters in southern portion of breeding range. Inhabits open woodlands, clearings, farmlands, parks, orchards, gardens, fields; often seen along roadsides on utility wires and fences.
BreedingMonogamous, Pairs
PopulationFairly common in range
MigrationSome migrate
Weight1.1 Ounces
Perching-like BodyX
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
BellyX
The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.
BreastX
The upper front part of a bird.
VentX
Birds do not have two separate cavities for excrement and reproduction like humans do. In birds, there is one single entrance/exit that suits both functions called the vent, cloaca or anus.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX