Birds · Passeriformes · Turdidae

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The eastern bluebird is an intensely blue-backed bird with an orange breast, much loved in the United States. Its population collapsed in the mid-twentieth century because of competition with introduced starlings and sparrows and the loss of dead trees with holes. The mass installation of nest boxes by volunteers has reversed that decline completely.

Weight

27 g – 34 g

Size

16 cm – 21 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestGrasslandInsectivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Temperate forest Grassland

8countries 23parks7same family

Fun facts

GeneralIts recovery in North America was achieved by putting up millions of nest boxes.
Its recovery is down to ordinary citizens: from the 1970s onwards thousands of volunteers put up nest-box trails across the eastern United States, and today there are tens of thousands of boxes maintained by private individuals. The population has multiplied since then.
Its blue is not pigment: it comes from the microscopic structure of the feathers, and a crushed feather turns greyish brown.
It is the state bird of New York and Missouri, and a popular symbol of happiness in American culture since the early twentieth century.