How to Identify a Bluebird

The term "bluebird" applies to a number of bird species located throughout the United States. Bird watchers often confuse the Mountain bluebird with a Western bluebird. To identify the various bluebird species correctly, you should differentiate the markings and behaviors that delineate each species.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Binoculars

Characteristics of The Eastern Bluebird

1. Notice the colors. Male Eastern bluebirds have a red chest with bright blue feathers, while females have subtler hues of both colors. Male Western bluebirds have a dark brown chest with a deep blue crown and feathers. Female Western bluebirds have a muddled combination of blue, black and brown feathers. Male Mountain bluebirds have sky-blue feathers, which starkly contrast with the deeper hues found in the feathers of the female Mountain bluebird. Mountain blue birds of both genders have black legs and claws.
2. Check the location. An Eastern bluebird nests exclusively in the Northeast, throughout the year, with only a few birds wandering westward. Western bluebirds reside solely in California, northern Mexico and a few spots in Oregon and Idaho. Mountain bluebirds rarely venture outside of western Canada and the Pacific Northwest, where they live year-round.
3. Track the broods. The Eastern bluebird annually produces multiple sets of young birds, unlike its Western or Mountain counterparts. You can track eggs in a nest near your home while the bluebirds are away gathering food.
4. Listen for the Eastern bluebird's song. These birds emit a series of broken whistles and warbling pitches that are markedly different from the sustained calls of other birds.

Tips & Warnings

• Using binoculars greatly enhances your ability to spot the subtle features which distinguish the different types of bluebirds. They are essential equipment for serious bird watchers.