Description

The mountain bluebirds are a little larger than a House Sparrow but smaller than an American Robin. The adult bluebird is 7-20 cm in size.

The back wings and tail of the male are bright azure-blue. The throat and breast is a lighter blue, fades to white on the abdomen. The flight feathers and tale is pale blue on the female and the head and back are a mixed wash of blue and gray. The throat is a brownish-ash blending to white on the lower breast.

Bluebirds are members of the thrush family. There are Mountain Bluebirds, Eastern Bluebirds, and Western Bluebirds

Habits

Mountain Bluebirds are ground-feeders and eat mostly insects (beetles, ants, wasps, caterpillars, and grasshoppers) as well as berries. The Mountain Bluebird will obtain most of its food by hovering in the air a metre or more above the ground in a hawk-like manner, as it searches for food.

Mountain Bluebirds sometimes migrate alone but more often travel in flocks of up to 50 birds. Most migration occurs late March early April. They travel during the day at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently to feed.

During winter, Mountain Bluebirds travel in flocks, often with Western Bluebirds and Sparrows, and feed on insects and small fruit, such as mistletoe, and currants.

Breeding

The male searches out a cavity and entices a prospective mate to inspect them. The male goes in and out of each cavity, fluttering excitedly about the female and calling continually, all in an effort to have her accept the site.

Bluebirds are territorial and will defend the area around the cavity. The female builds the nest. The male guards her against predators. The nest takes 2-7 days to build it. It is made of dry grass stems and finer plant material, including strips of bark.

Soon after completing the nest, the female lays one egg each day until the clutch, usually with 5 or 6 eggs, is complete. Occasionally there are up to 8 eggs in a clutch.

After the eggs hatch, the blind, naked, and helpless fledglings must be fed. The female spends much of her time the first week brooding the young and feeding them with food delivered by the male. Their diet consists of soft body insects, beetles, and grasshoppers. They weigh 2.8 g when hatched and 28 g in 10 days. Incubation is 2 weeks.

At 14 days of age the tiny bodies are nearly completely feathered, and the young leave the nest at about 18-21 days. Bluebirds are able to fly about 100 m on their first rather hazardous flight.

Bluebirds may use previously excavated cavities for nesting in standing snag or hollow trees. They will also make their home in nest boxes.

A mountain bluebird in a natural cavity.

Image by Myrna Pearman

Young Mountain Bluebirds

Image by Myrna Pearman

If the eggs or young of any brood are destroyed by predators, the bluebirds will avoid the nesting site for the rest of the season and may move as far as 200 km to a new nest site.

Habitat

Bluebirds prefer pastures, open spaces, grasslands, open coniferous forests, and juniper woodlands, at elevations above 1500 m.

Range In Saskatchewan

The male mountain bluebird's range extends from as far north as Cluff and Wollaston Lakes. It is uncommon in both the grasslands and the Boreal forest. In Saskatchewan, they nest mostly in snags of recent burns in the north and in the badlands of the south. One place you can spot bluebirds is the Cypress Hills Park.

Map & Legend by Devan & Brandon