The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia
currucoides) is 7 inches long. The male is turquoise blue above,
paler below with a whitish belly. The female is brownish grey
with blue on the rump, tail and wings.
These birds breed primarily from central
Alaska, south in high mountainous areas of the western United
States and Canada. They winter from Oregon, Colorado south. During
breeding season they prefer open terrain and meadows with scattered
trees generally above 5000 feet. In the winter they can be found
in open lowlands and desert.
The nest is made of plant material and
placed generally in a tree cavity, cliff or bird box. The eggs
are pale blue. There are 4 to 6 sometimes 8.
Mountain Bluebirds feed mainly on insects.
They can be seen hovering close to the ground when hunting.
These birds are highly migratory. The song
is a soft warble. The call a thin few.
Order: Passeriformes | Family:
Muscicapidae |
Genus: Sialia | Species: Sialia currucoides