General

Mountain Bluebird: Small thrush with sky-blue back, head, and wings. Throat and breast are paler blue, and belly and undertail coverts are white. Female is gray overall with blue wings, rump and tail, and has faint eye-ring. Juvenile resembles female but has spotted underparts.

Range and Habitat

Mountain Bluebird: Breeds in southern Alaska, Mackenzie, and Manitoba south to western Nebraska, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. Spends winters in British Columbia and Montana south through western U.S. Inhabits high mountain meadows with scattered trees and bushes; in winter, descends to lower elevations in plains and grasslands.

Breeding and Nesting

Mountain Bluebird: Five to six pale blue to blue white eggs are laid in a nest made of grass and plant fibers and built in a natural cavity or box. Incubation ranges from 13 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Mountain Bluebird: Eats insects, fruits, and berries. Forages from a perch, dropping to catch prey on the ground; also hovers above prey before capture.

Readily Eats

Raisins, Currants, Nut Meal

Vocalization

Mountain Bluebird: Song consists of a soft, melodious warble "tru-lee." Call is a "phew."

Similar Species

Mountain Bluebird: Eastern and Western bluebirds have red on underparts; females lack gray throats and bellies. Indigo Bunting and Blue Grosbeak have thicker, conical bills.