Western Bluebird

It’s so special to have the sweet, lovely Western bluebird in our garden from spring to fall.

Latin name: Sialia mexicana

Length, wingspan: 7″, 13.5″

What they eat: Insects

Plants that attract: Prefer open meadows and fields

Where they nest: Tree cavities and nest boxes (5″ square, 9″ deep, hole 1-9/16″)

My observations: About the size of a robin but with more rounded bodies, Western bluebirds add flashes of glorious blue to your garden. As you can see, the males have intense blue plumage with reddish breasts. The females have paler blue wings and light reddish-brown breasts. They are quite congenial although will quickly defend their nests and territories against other birds. They have voracious appetites for insects. Bluebirds migrate south for the winter.

For more details about this bird, go to Cornell’s All About Birds website.

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