"The bluebird is
well named, for he wears a coat of the purest,
richest, and most gorgeous blue on back, wings, and
tail; no North American bird better deserves the
name, for no other flashes before our admiring eyes
so much brilliant blue. It has been said that he
carries on his back the blue of heaven and the rich
brown of the freshly turned earth on his breast;
but who has ever seen the bluest sky as blue as the
bluebird's back?" (Quote describing the eastern
bluebird from the Arthur Cleveland Bent series on
the Birds of North America.)
Both the mountain
and western bluebirds can be found in Nevada,
although the mountain bluebird is more widespread.
Bluebirds are usually found in fields, open
woodlands, parks or along golf courses or other
open areas, including suburban locations with open
spaces and scattered tress. In the mountains they
are found in clearings and meadows.
The mountain
bluebird is well known for its hovering flight as
it hawks for insects.
Male western bluebird
Red = summer range,
Green = year-around, Blue = winter range
Male mountain bluebird
Red = summer range,
Green = year-around, Blue = winter
range
In
The Backyard:
Bluebirds can be attracted to peanut butter mixes,
suet and fruit. Raisins soaked in hot water to
soften them are well received. The bluebird's
special favorite is mealworms.
Nesting:
The mountain bluebird nests throughout Nevada in
appropriate habitat. The western bluebird nests in
the western and southern part of the state but its
range extends across the state during migration.
Both species will produce one, two or sometimes
three broods a year.
If you manage a
nest box watch for house sparrows trying to move in
and immediately remove all house sparrow nesting
material.
Visit the main
Birdzilla.com
Web site
for information nest boxes and management, bluebird
trails, range maps and much more on these popular
birds. The Sam's
Guide to Bluebirds
CD-ROM and DVD provides complete information on
bluebird trails, boxes, care and feeding and a
whole lot more.
