Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird

(Sialia currucoides)

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Photo © B. Holling

Mountain Bluebird nest

Photo © René Corado

Mountain Bluebird, white eggs

Photo © René Corado

Mountain Bluebird eggs

Photo © Anne Elliott

Adult male

Photo © Darren Clark / Macaulay Library

Female/immature

Photo © Kalin Ocaña / Macaulay Library

Juvenile

Photo © Van Remsen / Macaulay Library

Female/immature

Photo © Jody Wells / Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Chris Wood / Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Ian Routley / Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Marc North / Macaulay Library

Habitat

Photo © Kalin Ocaña / Macaulay Library

Flock

Photo © Chris Wood / Macaulay Library

Song

© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library

Song

© Dave Herr / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Robert C. Stein / Macaulay Library

Calls

© William W. H. Gunn / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Geoffrey A. Keller / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Nathan Pieplow

Juvenile calls

© Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library

When To Look

Source: Birds of the World

Where To Find It

Habitats

Substrates

What You'll Find

Nest Type

Chick

Clutch Size

4
8

Nest Height

50 ft
2 ft

Nesting Statistics

Incubation Period

13-14
days

Brooding Period

17-22
days

Useful Hints

  • Historically, the Mountain Bluebird depended for its nest sites on tree cavities excavated by woodpeckers, but the increased provisioning of nest boxes has created new breeding opportunities.
  • While showing off nest cavities, males give their most elaborate display: sing on or near the structure housing the nest cavity and at the entrance, and fly back and forth between a perch near the female and the nest cavity itself (sometimes this is accompanied by male copulation attempts).
  • Only the female builds the nest. The male sometimes acts as if he is helping, but he either brings no nest material or he drops it on the way.