Sialia currucoides
Mountain Bluebird
The Mountain Bluebird is a small thrush with a slender profile and long wings. Males are a rich, bright blue across their upperparts, fading to lighter blue on the breast and white on the lower belly. The wing tips are dusky, not pure blue.
Females are primarily grey-brown, with a distinctive blue rump patch and blue in the wings and tail. Their underparts can range from grey-brown to pale buff, with a whiter chin and belly. They also have a subtle white eye ring.
Young birds look similar to females but are darker, with distinctive white spotting on their breast and upper flanks.
Length
15cm to 18cm
Wingspan
28cm to 36cm
Weight
24g to 37g
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Mountain Bluebirds inhabit open, montane areas across western North America, from Alaska to Mexico. They prefer high-elevation meadows, grasslands, and open woodlands with scattered trees for nesting and perching.
During the breeding season, they occupy higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains and other western ranges. In winter, many birds move to lower elevations or more southern regions, including parts of the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Up to 3,800 meters
Temperate, Subarctic
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Mountain Bluebirds primarily feed on insects, including grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles. They supplement their diet with small fruits and berries, especially during winter months when insects are scarce.
Their hunting style involves hovering and dropping to the ground to catch prey.
Mountain Bluebirds are often seen perched on fenceposts or low branches, scanning the ground for insects. They employ a distinctive 'drop and hover' hunting technique, flying down to catch prey on the ground or in mid-air.
During the breeding season, males perform aerial displays to attract mates, showcasing their vibrant plumage.
The Mountain Bluebird's song is a series of soft, warbling phrases, often described as 'few-few-few' or 'chur-chur'. Their call is a thin, musical 'few' or 'phew'.
During courtship, males sing more frequently, producing longer, more varied songs to attract mates.
Mountain Bluebirds form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, which typically begins in late spring. Males perform aerial displays and offer nesting material to attract females.
Nests are built in natural tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or nest boxes. Females construct the nest using grasses and fine plant materials, laying 4-8 pale blue eggs.
Incubation lasts about 13 days, primarily done by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after 18-21 days. Pairs often raise two broods per season in favorable conditions.
The Mountain Bluebird typically lives for 4 to 6 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 9 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
While currently listed as Least Concern, Mountain Bluebirds face threats from habitat loss due to urban development and changes in agricultural practices.
Conservation efforts include the installation of nest boxes in suitable habitats, which has helped stabilize populations in some areas.
Arctic Bluebird
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website: BirdLife International. 2019. Sialia currucoides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22708556A137560639.
View sourcereport, 2017: Sauer et al.
website, 2022: Partners in Flight
View sourcewebsite: Historical Longevity Records of North American Birds
View source