Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Eastern Bluebird is a small bird of open fields and parks in the eastern United States. Males have blue backs and rusty-orange throats and chests, and the birds often watch from low perches before dropping to the ground for insects. Nest boxes have helped populations recover.

Appearance

Appearance: At 6–8 in (16–21 cm) long, the male is bright blue above with a rusty-orange throat and chest and a white belly. The female is grayer with blue in the wings and tail.

Look-alikes

Western BluebirdSialia mexicana

An adult male Western Bluebird has a blue throat and rusty shoulders. An adult male Eastern Bluebird has a rusty throat and blue shoulders.

Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoides

An adult male Mountain Bluebird is paler sky blue and lacks the Eastern Bluebird’s rusty-orange chest.

Three bluebirds

	Male throat	Male upperparts	Range clue
Eastern Bluebird	Rusty orange	Blue shoulders	Common in eastern U.S.
Western Bluebird	Blue	Rusty shoulders	Mostly western U.S.
Mountain Bluebird	Sky blue	Paler sky blue overall	Mostly western U.S.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Pastures
Field edges
Suburban parks
Range: It is widespread in the eastern United States. Birds from the northern part of its range often winter in the Southeast or Mexico.
Preferred conditions: Look for open ground with scattered trees, fence posts, or nest boxes.
Migration: Northern birds often move south for winter, while some in the Southeast stay year-round.
When it’s recorded: Recorded year-round, every year · most records in Apr–May
85,729 observations in the US · 10 years · for referenceChoose a state

Behavior

Diet: It catches ground insects in warm months and eats many berries in fall and winter.
Activity: It often waits on a low perch, then drops to the ground for an insect.

Life cycle

Nest: It nests in tree holes or nest boxes; the female builds the nest from grasses and pine needles.
Clutch size: 2–7 eggs
Incubation: 11–19 days

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Status: Nest box programs helped populations recover after competition for nesting holes increased.

8 sources