Bird Food Preferences

Fruit and mealworms

Bird Feeder Preferences

Fruit and mealworm

Bird House Specifications

Eastern Bluebirds use nest boxes.  Check out the Bird House Dimensions page to learn how to build a bird house specifically for Eastern Bluebirds.

Plants to Attract

Woody Plants: Smooth sumac and sumac; Non-woody
Plants: Mistletoe

Description

Eastern Bluebirds are found year round in the southeast states and parts of Mexico and Central America.  During the breeding season, Eastern Bluebirds can be seen as far north as Canada.  Eastern Bluebirds are common in open fields surrounded by trees.  With the increase in bluebird boxes and trails, Eastern Bluebirds can be found along roads and fields, as well as in parks and golf courses.

The Eastern Bluebird is on average seven inches in length and weighs one ounce.  It is a small thrush with a round head and short bill.  The Eastern Bluebird male has distinguishing blue upperparts with an orange throat and chest.  The female has gray upperparts with blue wings and tail.  Her throat and chest are pale orange.  Both the male and female have white lower bellies.

The male attracts a female to his nesting site by carrying nesting material in and out of the hole and fluttering his wings.  The nesting site can be either in natural cavities or nest boxes.  Once he has attracted a female, the female builds the nest.  The female weaves together the nest with grasses and pine needles and lines it with fine grasses.  Typically, Eastern Bluebirds have more than one successful brood each year.

Similar Species

Mountain Bluebird and Western Bluebird