"The bluebird is
well named, for he wears a coat of the purest,
richest, and most gorgeous blue on back, wings, and
tail; no North American bird better deserves the
name, for no other flashes before our admiring eyes
so much brilliant blue. It has been said that he
carries on his back the blue of heaven and the rich
brown of the freshly turned earth on his breast;
but who has ever seen the bluest sky as blue as the
bluebird's back?" (Quote describing the eastern
bluebird from the Arthur Cleveland Bent series on
the Birds of North America.)
The eastern
bluebird is a summer resident in South Dakota.
Mountain bluebirds extend their range to most parts
of the state during migration.
Bluebirds are
usually found in fields, open woodlands, parks or
along golf courses or other open areas, including
suburban locations with open spaces and scattered
tress. In the mountains they are found in clearings
and meadows. The
eastern bluebird has a musical flight call that
often reveals its presence. The mountain bluebird
is well known for its hovering flight as it hawks
for insects.
Male mountain bluebird
Red = summer range,
Green = year-around, Blue = winter range
Male eastern bluebird
Red = summer range,
Green = year-around, Blue = winter
range
In
The Backyard:
Bluebirds can be attracted to peanut butter mixes,
suet and fruit. Raisins soaked in hot water to
soften them are well received. The bluebird's
special favorite is mealworms.
Nesting:
The eastern bluebird nests throughout North Dakota
in appropriate habitat. One or two broods may be
produced. Three to five light blue eggs are
typical.
The nesting range
of the mountain bluebird is limited to isolated
areas in the western edge of the state. The typical
clutch for mountain bluebirds is 4 to 6 pale, blue
eggs.
If you manage a
bluebird house watch for house sparrows trying to
use the next box and immediately remove any house
sparrow nesting material.
Visit the main
Birdzilla.com
Web site
for information nest boxes and management, bluebird
trails, range maps and much more on these popular
birds. The Sam's
Guide to Bluebirds
CD-ROM and DVD provides complete information on
bluebird trails, boxes, care and feeding and a
whole lot more.
