April 11, 2024

Meet the Eastern Bluebird

sialia sialis

(scientific name)

If you’ve ever heard the species referred to as Blue Robin or Blue Redbreast, it’s probably because the Eastern Bluebird – like the American Robin – is a thrush. Though smaller than a robin, cousin bluebird shares thrush features: rounded head, big eyes, plump belly, and an alert posture. Both hatch from bluish eggs, feed on insects in summer, and rely heavily on berries in the winter. However, bluebirds’ colors are strikingly different. Male bluebirds display the telltale, bold blue head and back with a rusty orange throat and chest. Females are more subdued in their looks, featuring a grey-brown appearance overall, but still sporting blue tinges on the wings and tail.

the local history of

Bluebirds in Ohio

Bluebirds favor open habitat, especially fields, meadows, and forest openings. At one time, Eastern Bluebirds were among the most common songbirds in Ohio. Centuries of settlement saw the clearing of forests and the farming of hay, oat, and corn, plus the development of pastures and orchards, which created an ideal habitat for bluebirds to flourish.

However, in the early 1900s, the population began to fall dramatically with the introduction of European Starlings and House Sparrows, both of which aggressively compete for nesting holes. Fortunately, the launch of nest-box campaigns and the establishment of bluebird trails in the 1960s and 1970s has helped Eastern Bluebirds steadily recover.

things are looking up

These days, bluebirds are most often spotted atop telephone wires, power lines, and high fence posts. They’re always scanning the ground for prey, which they can see from a good 60 feet away. When they catch sight of a meal, which can include caterpillars, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and spiders, they flutter down to the ground or snatch the creatures in mid-air, then return to their perch.

cleveland metroparks bluebird trail

west creek reservation

Designated bluebird trails in open meadows, along golf courses, and as part of cemeteries also create opportunities to watch the species. These trails typically include five or more bluebird nesting boxes carefully placed about 100 yards apart. Bluebird Point Overlook in Parma, situated along the all-purpose trail in West Creek Reservation, is an excellent example. This breeding ground for bluebirds was created by Cleveland Metroparks by restoring the former landfill to its natural meadow habitat glory and dotting it with birdhouses.

attracting to your home

backyard bluebirds

Homeowners with a spacious yard may want to place a nesting box to help with strengthening the bluebird population. The ideal stretch of yard space is approximately one half acre in size, fairly open, and free of dense vegetation. Nesting boxes should be specially designed to support the ideal breeding conditions for bluebirds while mitigating the biggest threats to their survival.

The Cedar Bluebird Box by Nature’s Way is made of insect- and rot-resistant cedar, features the necessary wall and floor vents, and comes with a built-in predator guard for the entry hole. It’s also designed with a clean-out door for easy maintenance. Nesting boxes are best placed ahead of April (first bluebird breeding season) and July (second bluebird breeding season) with the entry hole facing east to allow for morning sun and to avoid prevailing winds. It’s a good idea to leave the box out year round. Bluebirds are territorial and, once a reliable nesting box has been discovered, a good percentage of bluebird couples will return to the same nesting box to breed again.

hot commodity

tough housing market

Competition for a place to start a family is high, so once a site is found, male bluebirds will fight off other cavity nesters for it like swallows, chickadees, titmice, wrens, and nuthatches. That’s because pickings can be incredibly slim for bluebirds. Their beaks are not designed for excavation, so their only options are the old nesting holes formerly occupied by woodpeckers in tall, dead pines and oaks, rotted-out holes in wooden fence posts, and man-made nesting boxes. Unfortunately, non-native starlings often take over boxes before bluebirds arrive, and invasive sparrows sometimes kill bluebirds in the nest box, so it’s good practice to monitor nest boxes to keep out these invaders.

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food for thought

preferred food sources

Bluebirds are naturally foragers, but they can certainly be trained to visit feeders – especially if you serve up their favorite, mealworms! Like nesting boxes, feeders should be specially designed to cater to bluebirds while discouraging competition.

The Cedar Bluebird Feeder by Songbird Essentials features a 9/16-inch hole perfectly sized to give bluebirds the advantage in accessing mealworms. The roof protects the food from sun and rain, and also pivots for easy filling.

Bugs for Birds™ by Wild Delight is a protein-rich, three-insect mix combining black soldier fly larvae, dried darkling beetles, and dried mealworms to attract bluebirds.

Mealworms are irresistible to bluebirds, and dried mealworms are readily available year-round at Petitti’s. For best results, soak in hot water for fifteen minutes to soften before adding to the feeder.

gardening for bluebirds

Growing a diversity of native plant varieties is one of the best ways gardeners can support bluebirds in Northeast Ohio, especially trees and shrubs that support insects or produce berries. Come the fall/winter season, when insects are no longer readily available, bluebirds that stick around rather than migrating to southern Ohio rely on berries for nourishment. Excellent native berry producers available at Petitti’s include Flowering Dogwood, Holly, Elderberry, Viburnum, Blueberry, Serviceberry, and Juniper.

Lend a Helping Hand

With unrelenting competition from sparrows and starlings for nesting cavities, and the shift of Ohio’s farmland from a mix of small, diverse crop fields to large, monoculture corn and soybean farms, the Eastern Bluebird will continue to be challenged and will certainly benefit from helpful human hands!

The Basics of Backyard Birding

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