THRUSHES

Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis

Family Turdidae (Thrushes)

Size: 7"

Season: Year-round

Habitat: Open woodlands, pastures, fields

The Eastern Bluebird is a member of the thrush family that travels in small groups, feeding on a variety of insects, spiders, and berries, and singing a series of musical chur-lee notes. It is a stocky, short-tailed, and short-billed bird that often perches in an upright posture on wires and posts. The male is brilliant blue above and rusty-orange below with a white belly and undertail region. The orange extends to the nape making a subtle collar. The female is paler overall with a white throat and eye-rings. Juveniles are brownish-gray with extensive white spotting and barred underparts. Man-made nest boxes have helped this species increase in numbers throughout its range. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.