Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
Summary 4
The Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) is a small thrush. Males have bright blue backs and wings and rust-colored breast and back. Females tend to be paler gray on their bodies and pale orange on their chests.
Similar SpeciesWestern Scrub Jay - much larger bird with longer tails and no rust/orange coloration
Steller's Jay- also much larger bird, with longer tails, no rust/orange coloration and also has a tufted head.
Where on Campus? 5
Western bluebirds can be seen year-round on campus, feeding on the insects in and over the lawns. It is likely that they do nest on campus, though this has not been confirmed.
Habitat 5
Open woodlands and edges of woods. They need vegetation for perching and trees for nesting.
Life History Traits 5
Nesting Western bluebirds are cavity nesters (they will happily nest in nest boxes as well). They are apparently seasonally monogamous, though genetic studies indicate the young in a nest are not all from the same father. They have 1-3 broods/season.
Feeding Western bluebirds are insectivores in the summer, but also eat many different types of berries in the winter including poison oak, blackberries and elderberries.
Distribution 5
Western bluebirds can be found in SW Canada, Washington, Oregon, California (not in deserts) and in the SW US into NW Mexico
Migration 5
Our bluebirds are not migratory.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Jamie Chavez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/20709090@N00/2335261065
- (c) VivaVictoria, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Sialia-Mexicana-Sunnyvale-Male-Feeding.jpg/460px-Sialia-Mexicana-Sunnyvale-Male-Feeding.jpg
- (c) VivaVictoria, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Sialia-Mexicana-Sunnyvale-Female-Feeding.jpg/460px-Sialia-Mexicana-Sunnyvale-Female-Feeding.jpg
- Adapted by gillian360 from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sialia_mexicana
- (c) gillian360, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
