Bluebirds are a common and very recognizable songbird in most of the US, they are also especially beloved by birdwatchers. With bright blue and deep, red-orange colors, these beautiful birds can be found everywhere, and can thrive in suburban areas. Since they’re so widespread and visible, people tend to have lots of questions about them. Here are 20 questions along with some interesting facts about Eastern Bluebirds.
Facts about Eastern Bluebirds
1. Where Do Eastern Bluebirds Live?
Eastern bluebirds live in most of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, and in parts of Southern Canada. There are also native populations of eastern bluebirds living in Mexico and Central America.
2. What Do Eastern Bluebirds Eat?
Eastern bluebirds eat mostly insects, and they tend to catch them on the ground. Spiders, grasshoppers, beetles and crickets are all favorite foods for them. During the winter when insects are hard or impossible to find, they’ll eat a wide range of fruits and seeds. Juniper berries, blueberries, sumac, mistletoe, and more are all on the menu.
3. How Long Do Eastern Bluebirds Live?
Eastern bluebirds that survive to adulthood can live for 6-10 years. That’s unusually long for a wild bird to live, but most bluebirds do not survive their first year of life.
4. Do Eastern Bluebirds Mate for Life?
Bluebirds don’t typically mate for life, although it’s not uncommon for a breeding pair to spend more than one breeding season together. During the breeding season, they are monogamous, meaning that they form breeding pairs that work together to raise their chicks. Sometimes, the same two adults will breed for more than one season, but there’s no guarantee that this will happen.
5. When Do Eastern Bluebirds Turn Blue?
Females will never turn bright blue, instead staying a dull blue-gray for their whole lives. Males will begin to develop bright blue feathers when they are around 13-14 days old, but it may be several days after that before they begin to show adult coloration over their whole body.
