About Bluebirds

The three most common species of bluebirds are the Mountain Bluebird, Western Bluebird and the Eastern Bluebird. These brilliantly colored bluebirds are members in the Thrush family and the Sialia genus. Bluebirds primarily nest in tree cavities and forage in grasslands.

Their diet consists of insects and wild berries, but that is not to say they will not eat a variety of other foods when the opportunity presents itself. They are omnivorous feeders, which leaves their diet open to just about anything. Mainly they feed on large amounts of grasshoppers and cutworms, which make them beneficial to home gardeners and farmers.

Depending upon the species their plumage is solid blue or appears as bright blue with a dash of red as well. Both male and females are medium sized and almost the same size. Although females do not have as bright of colors compared to males.

Bluebirds may have as many as two or even four broods during spring and summer months. Bluebird nests are almost cup-shaped and typically made of grass varieties woven together. On average they lay four or five light colored, blue eggs and sometimes as many as seven. Although blue eggs are the norm, there have been a small number that are white rather than blue. Bluebird eggs will have an average incubation period of 12 or possibly 14 days.

Baby bluebirds (nestlings) will remain nesting for as long as 21 days. Unfortunately, young baby bluebirds can fall prey to numerous predators including cats, raccoons or snakes. In addition, other birds competing for nesting sites may destroy bluebird eggs or even kill young, weak babies. House sparrows and Common Starlings sometimes kill adults and young nesting bluebirds as well.

If you have had the opportunity to enjoy watching bluebirds in your yard, you might try placing nesting boxes in trees to help them out. Nesting boxes can be mounted on fence posts about four to five feet off the ground. You can also collect nesting materials of soft grasses or pine needles. Nesting materials can be placed inside a nesting box or put in close proximity to the box so they can build their own nest.

You can feed bluebirds a variety of berries, fruits, meal worms or peanut kernels placed in an open platform style feeder. In addition to nesting boxes and food, supplying fresh water is a great way to help wild bluebirds.

Sources:

http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/gettingstarted.htm

http://www.birdsforever.com/bluebird.html