Birdsong field guide
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
A stocky North American thrush characterized by the male's deep blue plumage and chestnut-red breast and back patches. It is a social cavity-nester often seen scanning for insects from low perches.
What it sounds like
A series of soft, low-pitched 'phew' or 'chew' notes, and a dry, rapid chattering during flight.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- Unlike the Eastern Bluebird, the male Western Bluebird typically features a blue throat and distinctive chestnut patches on its upper back.
- They are secondary cavity nesters that rely on abandoned woodpecker holes or human-provided nest boxes to raise their young.
- In winter, their diet shifts significantly from insects to berries, with a particular preference for mistletoe and juniper.
- They employ a hunting technique called 'ground-sallying,' where they drop from a low perch to snatch insects directly from the soil.
- Western Bluebirds are known to exhibit cooperative breeding, where previous offspring occasionally help parents feed a new brood.
Habitat
Open woodlands, oak savannahs, orchards, and edges of coniferous forests.
Range
Western North America, ranging from southern British Columbia through the western United States to central Mexico.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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