Perch Supply
Thrushes (Turdidae)

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis. Insects caught on the ground in warm months; fruit in fall and winter.

Male Eastern Bluebird perched, showing deep blue back and rust-orange breast
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Scientific name
Sialia sialis
Length
6.3–8.3 in
Weight
0.9–1.1 oz
Nest
Secondary cavity nester — old woodpecker holes and nest boxes in open habitat
Entrance hole
1 1/2 in round (1 9/16 in for Mountain/Western overlap)
Clutch
2–7 eggs
Incubation
11–19 days
Broods
1–3 per season

Identification

  • Male vivid blue above with a rusty-orange throat and breast and white belly
  • Female greyer with blue wings and tail and a paler orange breast
  • Upright posture on wires and low perches in open country

Voice

Soft, warbling "chur-lee, chur-chur-lee" song; a quiet "tu-a-wee" call.

Diet and feeding

Insects caught on the ground in warm months; fruit in fall and winter.

What do bluebirds eat? · Best feeder for bluebirds

Eastern Bluebirds by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaYear-round residentMarch–August
ArizonaYear-round residentMarch–August
ArkansasYear-round residentApril–August
ConnecticutSummer breederApril–August
DelawareYear-round residentApril–August
FloridaYear-round residentMarch–July
GeorgiaYear-round residentMarch–August
IllinoisSummer breederApril–August
IndianaSummer breederApril–August
IowaSummer breederApril–August
KansasYear-round residentApril–August
KentuckyYear-round residentApril–August
LouisianaYear-round residentMarch–August
MaineSummer breederMay–August
ManitobaSummer breederMay–August
MarylandYear-round residentApril–August
MassachusettsSummer breederApril–August
MichiganSummer breederApril–August
MinnesotaSummer breederMay–August
MississippiYear-round residentMarch–August
MissouriYear-round residentApril–August
NebraskaSummer breederApril–August
New BrunswickSummer breederMay–August
New HampshireSummer breederMay–August
New JerseyYear-round residentApril–August
New YorkSummer breederApril–August
North CarolinaYear-round residentMarch–August
North DakotaSummer breederMay–August
Nova ScotiaSummer breederMay–July
OhioYear-round residentApril–August
OklahomaYear-round residentApril–August
OntarioSummer breederMay–August
PennsylvaniaYear-round residentApril–August
QuebecSummer breederMay–August
Rhode IslandSummer breederApril–August
SaskatchewanSummer breederMay–August
South CarolinaYear-round residentMarch–August
South DakotaSummer breederApril–August
TennesseeYear-round residentApril–August
TexasYear-round residentMarch–July
VermontSummer breederMay–August
VirginiaYear-round residentMarch–August
West VirginiaYear-round residentApril–August
WisconsinSummer breederMay–August

Frequently asked

What do bluebirds eat?

Insects caught on the ground in warm months; fruit in fall and winter. At feeders: live or dried mealworms, suet nuggets / insect-suet dough, chopped native fruit.

How big is a Eastern Bluebird?

6.3–8.3 in long and 0.9–1.1 oz.

Do bluebirds use birdhouses?

Yes — a 1 1/2 in round (1 9/16 in for Mountain/Western overlap) entrance, 5 × 5 in floor, mounted 4–6 ft on a baffled pole.

Sources

  1. Eastern Bluebird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Eastern Bluebird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Eastern Bluebird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.