Common Nesting Birds

meet your neighbors

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Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)


Photo © H. S. Farm

Eastern Bluebird eggs

Photo © R. Greenwood

Eastern Bluebird nest

Photo © reddirtpics

Eastern Bluebird nest and eggs

Photo © reddirtpics

Adult male

Photo © Keith Kennedy / Macaulay Library

Female/immature

Photo © Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Juvenile

Photo © S. K. Jones / Macaulay Library

Female/immature

Photo © Ryan Schain / Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Michel Laquerre / Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Brad Imhoff / Macaulay Library

Adult female

Photo © Joseph Boros / Macaulay Library

Breeding male and female

Photo © Tim Lenz / Macaulay Library

Song (Eastern)

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Song (Eastern)

© Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library

Song (Eastern)

© Arthur A. Allen / Macaulay Library

Calls (Eastern)

© Glen Chapman / Macaulay Library

Calls (Eastern)

© Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library

Calls (Eastern)

© Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library

Calls (Eastern)

© Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library

Calls (Eastern)

© Glen Chapman / Macaulay Library

Song (Mexican)

© Bill Roe / Macaulay Library

When To Look

Source: Birds of the World

Where To Find It

Habitats

grassland

open woodland

Substrates

Nestbox or Birdhouse

Live Tree Cavity

Dead Tree Cavity

What You'll Find

Nest Type

cavity

Chick

Altricial

Clutch Size

3
5

Nest Height

20 ft
3 ft

Nesting Statistics

Incubation Period

11-19
days

Brooding Period

17-19
days

Useful Hints

  • The male Eastern Bluebird displays at his nest cavity to attract a female. He brings nest material to the hole, goes in and out, and waves his wings while perched above it.
  • The female makes the nest by loosely weaving together grasses and pine needles, then lining it with fine grasses and occasionally horse hair or turkey feathers.
  • After a successful clutch fledges, the female bluebird will often go off to build a second nest, leaving the male to care for the fledged young.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell Lab of Ornithology