Western Bluebirds

Their breeding habitat is semi-open country across western North America, but not desert areas. They nest in cavities or in nest boxes, competing with Tree Swallows, House Sparrows and European Starlings for natural nesting locations.

The Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) is a medium-sized thrush. Adults have a grey belly. Adult males are bright blue on top and on the throat with a red breast; they have a brown patch on their back. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, a brownish breast and a grey crown, throat and back.

Northern birds migrate to the southern parts of the range; southern birds are often permanent residents. These birds wait on a perch and fly down to catch insects, sometimes catching them in midair. They mainly eat insects and berries.

Western Bluebirds are found in open and semi-open habitats in the western United States.  They are most easily distinguished from Eastern Bluebirds by range and by their blue throat (compared to rusty orange on an Eastern Bluebird).  Their normal range is a few hundred miles from South Dakota, and they are considered only very rare visitors to the state.

Habitat: Found in semi-open and open habitats in all seasons, such as open pine and oak woodlands, riparian bands of trees, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and farmland.

Diet: Insects make up the majority of the diet, but berries and fruits can also be an important food item, especially in the winter when insects aren't as plentiful.

Behavior: Often feeds by perching low in vegetation and swooping down to the ground to snatch insects.  They will also fly from a perch to catch insects in mid-air, and will forage among the foliage.  

Breeding: Non-breeder in South Dakota. Short sweet warbling.

Migration: Summers throughout the Northwest and Southwest U.S., extreme southwestern Canada, and in Mexico.  Those in the northwestern part of their range migrate southward for the winter, but the rest are generally permanent residents.