Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
Summary 3
The mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is a medium-sized bird weighing about 30 g (1.1 oz) with a length from 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in). They have light underbellies and black eyes. Adult males have thin bills and are bright turquoise-blue and somewhat lighter underneath. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, grey breast, grey crown, throat and back. In fresh fall plumage, the female's throat and breast are tinged with red-orange, brownish near the flank contrasting with white tail underparts. Their call is a thin 'few'; while their song is warbled high 'chur chur'. It is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada. It is an omnivore and it can live 6 to 10 years in the wild. It eats spiders, grasshoppers, flies and other insects, and small fruits. The mountain bluebird is a relative of the eastern and western bluebirds.
Habitat 4
Comments: Subalpine meadows, grasslands, shrub-steppe, savanna, and pinyon-juniper woodland; in south usually at elevations above 1500 m. In winter and migration also inhabits desert, brushy areas and agricultural lands. Nests are built in natural tree cavities, or abandoned woodpecker holes. May also use bird box, old swallow's nest, rock crevice, or old mammal burrow. Tree Swallows, flickers, wrens, and chickadees may compete for nest sites.
Reproduction 5
Clutch size 4-8 (usually 5-6). Sometimes 2 broods per year. Both sexes, primarily female, incubate about 13-14 days (Harrison 1978). Altricial young tended by both parents (may be assisted by young of first brood).
Sources and Credits
- (c) Blake Matheson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/34328261@N02/3201549127
- (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/3478098039/
- Adapted by L.G. Johanson from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sialia_currucoides
- (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28917262
- (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28917259
More Info
Range Map
iNaturalist.ca Map
| Animal | Bird |
|---|---|
| Color | blue, grey |
| Bird | Thrushes (Turdidae) |
