Eastern Bluebird

An Eastern Bluebird is a fun bird to see while bird watching. Below are some tips to help you identify Eastern Bluebirds. We have also put together a list of fun Eastern Bluebird t-shirts, Eastern Bluebird bird patches, bird houses, bird feeders, binoculars, stickers and other fun bird watching items.

About Eastern Eastern Bluebirds

The Eastern Bluebird is named after its beautiful blue plumage that shines brightly in flight. This bird watcher’s favorite is the state bird of both Missouri and New York. It lives in many regions of North America with frequent sightings in the American Midwest and Southern Canada.

Description and Identification

Eastern Bluebirds catch the eye with a bright blue plumage with hints of copper and brown. They are often spotted perched upon twigs or wires. With about 8 inches in height, the males have bright blue heads, wings, and tails with a brownish redbreast. The females have lighter colors with some grey on their heads, wings, and tails. Female eastern bluebirds have a lighter breast with a darker orange than the males. They have large eyes and alert posture. Bluebirds are social and gather in flocks of over a hundred. During the breeding season, however, they are territorial. Juveniles have spotted on their backs and chest, and a variable amount of blue and brown on their wings and tails. 

Eastern Bluebird Color Pattern

The male Eastern Blue bird is adorned with deep blue feathers on its back and a rusty brick red plumage on its throat and belly. Females, on the other hand, are grayish at the top with bluish wings and tails. Much like their counterparts, they have a brownish-orange plumage on their breast.

Eastern Bluebird Size

This small thrush bird has a big, rounded head, plump body, alert posture, and large beady eyes. Their tails, legs, and bill are very short whereas they have very long wings.

The relative size for both sexes is:

• Length: 6.3-8.3 in (16-21 cm)
• Weight: 1.0-1.1 oz (28-32 g)
• Wingspan: 9.8-12.6 in (25-32 cm)

Eastern Bluebird Behavior

• The recorded flight speed of this bird is 17 miles per hour.
• Eastern Bluebirds are commonly seen perched erect on posts, low branches, and wires.

Eastern Bluebird Diet

The majority of Eastern Bluebirds have a diet based on insects and other invertebrates. A third of their diet is on wild fruits and berries. They enjoy grasshoppers, beetles, crickets; and also eat earthworms, spiders, centipedes, and snails. They perch themselves upon twigs and branches to get a clear view of the ground. They swoop down to pick insects near the ground. You can use food to lure them into your backyard for sightseeing. 

70% of their diet consists of insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, crickets, and caterpillars. The other 30% of their diet is covered by seeds and berries such as sumac seeds and blackberries.

Where Eastern Bluebirds Live and Their Habitat

The natural habitat of Eastern Bluebirds is likely around open woods. They reside in pine savannas, beaver ponds, and forest openings. During difficult winters, they find comfort in collectively seeking comfort in heavy thickets, orchards, and other regions with food availability.  In urban settings, they can be spotted on golf courses, backyards, suburban parks and even agricultural fields. They can be found in meadows and due to the installation of nesting boxes, they can often be spotted alongside roads. 

Typically live in meadows and areas surrounded by trees that provide them with suitable nesting spots.

Range and Migration

Eastern bluebirds occupy the regions east of the Rockies. Their range extends from southern Canada to the Gulf states, and from southeastern Arizona to Nicaragua. In recent years, due to fire suppression and tree plantation, the increase in the number of trees has facilitated the extension of their range westward. Birds farther north in their range, and in the west tend to lay more eggs than the southern and western birds. They often migrate based on the availability of food. 

Nesting

They nest in holes in trees and nest boxes. Nesting is a procedure initiated by males. They repeatedly fly in and out of the nest box openings to indicate availability. They bring in some nest material, then perch up above the nesting box while waving their wings. The remaining responsibilities are females. The females build the nest to completion and incubate the eggs. Eastern Bluebirds typically have more than one successful brood per year. The younglings usually spend the winter with their parents and leave the nest to become independent with the arrival of summer. 

Eastern Bluebird Lifecycle

The female lays three to six eggs and incubates them for approximately two weeks. The baby birds are mostly fed by the male and typically leave the nest within 20 days. The eastern bluebird has two broods in a season.

Breeding takes place during the spring and summer seasons. They nest their eggs in man-made nest boxes put up by the female Eastern Blue bird.

Anatomy of a Eastern Bluebird

Anatomy is the study of animals or other organisms and their parts. Bird Anatomy is the study of bird and their parts. Birds have beaks, wings, talons, feathers, and other parts that are important to learn about. Learning about bird anatomy will also help kids learn how to identify birds.  We focus on the exterior, external, or outside anatomy of birds to help kids learn how to identify them.

Some other types of bird anatomy are the skeletal system, muscular system, circulatory system, respiratory systems, and digestive systems. Birds also have reproductive systems, nervous systems and immune systems. Birds are amazing creatures.

FREE PRINTABLE BIRD ANATOMY INFOGRAPHIC

Here is a fun printable design to help kids learns about Eastern Bluebird.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THIS FILE Bird Anatomy Eastern Bluebird

Below is a blank copy to test your kids on the bird anatomy of an Eastern Bluebird.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THIS BLANK TEST FILE Bird Anatomy Eastern Bluebird Test

Ornithology

Bird Watching Academy & Camp Subscription Boxes

At Bird Watching Academy & Camp we help kids, youth, and adults get excited and involved in bird watching. We have several monthly subscription boxes that you can subscribe to. Our monthly subscription boxes help kids, youth, and adults learn about birds, bird watching, and bird conservation.

Bird Watching Binoculars for Identifying Eastern Bluebirds

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing Eastern Bluebirds are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.

Eastern Bluebird T-shirts

If you love the Eastern Bluebird you should purchase a Bird Watching Academy & Camp T-shirt. To help support bird conservation we donate 10 percent to bird conservation activities.

Eastern Bluebird Iron On Patches

Kids, Youth, and Adults love to collect our Bird Watching Academy & Camp iron on patches. Our bird watching patches help you keep track of the birds you have seen an identified. You can also display the patches on our Bird Watching Academy & Camp banners.

The Eastern Bluebird is a great iron on patch to start your collection with. The patches are durable and can be sewn on or ironed on to just about anything.

Eastern Bluebird Stickers

Stickers are a great way for you to display your love for bird watching and the Eastern Bluebird. We sell a monthly subscription sticker pack. The sticker packs have 12 bird stickers. These sticker packs will help your kids learn new birds every month.

Eastern Bluebird Activities for Kids

We thought a fun perler bead pattern would be fun for kids. Please download and print with 100% scale to fit perfectly with perler bead patterns.

Bird Feeders For Eastern Bluebird

There are many types of bird feeders. Here are our favorite bird feeders for your backyard. We use all of these bird feeders currently. Kids will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. Using this collection of bird feeders will provide a wide variety and many types of birds.

Best Bird Houses for Eastern Bluebird

There are many types of bird houses. Building a bird house is always fun but can be frustrating. These 4 bird houses have become our favorites. Getting a bird house for kids to watch birds grow is always fun. We spent a little extra money on these bird houses but they have been worth the higher price and look great.