# Eastern Bluebird (*Sialia sialis*) The Eastern Bluebird is a small, cheerful bird with bright blue feathers on its back and a warm orange chest. They love to sing and can often be seen perched on fences and trees. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 325 - **Habitat:** Open fields, gardens, and woodlands - **Also known as:** Bluebird, Common Bluebird ![Eastern Bluebird](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426593/objects/4544.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Bluebird is a vibrant songbird; males boast a brilliant sky-blue back and head, contrasting sharply with a rusty orange-brown breast and white belly. Females have a duller blue and a paler orange chest, making them visually distinct from similar thrushes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Turdidae - **Genus:** Sialia ## Interesting facts - Baby bluebirds have speckled breasts, looking quite different from their blue parents! - Bluebirds aren't truly blue! Their feathers have special structures that scatter light, making them \*appear\* blue. - Males offer females a tasty insect or berry as part of their courtship dance! - They are fantastic at catching insects mid-flight, like tiny avian acrobats! ## Special abilities - **Insect Inspector:** Eastern Bluebird can spot tiny insects from a distance because they have excellent eyesight that helps them find food. - **Cavity Constructor:** Eastern Bluebird can build nests in old woodpecker holes or birdhouses because they are cavity nesters that helps them raise chicks safely. - **Berry Baron:** Eastern Bluebird can survive winter because they switch to eating fruits and berries that helps them find food when insects are scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 16-21 cm - **Wingspan:** 32-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.028-0.032 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-7 - **Incubation:** 12-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 2000 km ## Diet & Feeding Eastern Bluebirds feast on insects in summer and switch to a tasty diet of berries and fruits in winter. - **Age differences:** Changes seasonally from mostly insects in summer to mostly fruits and berries in winter. - **Primary Foods:** Grasshoppers, Crickets, Beetles, Caterpillars, Blueberries, Sumac berries - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Black Cherry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-cherry) (*Prunus serotina*) — Bluebirds feed on its fruits, especially in winter. - **Eaten by:** [American Kestrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-kestrel) (*Falco sparverius*) — Small raptors like kestrels can prey on bluebirds. - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Bluebirds frequently consume ants and other ground insects. - **Depends on:** [Downy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-woodpecker) (*Picoides pubescens*) — Bluebirds often nest in cavities created by woodpeckers. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Eastern Bluebirds are friendly and safe to watch from a distance. Always be gentle and quiet around wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Bluebird? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Bluebird? 16-21 cm ### What is Eastern Bluebird's wingspan? 32-35 cm ### How much does Eastern Bluebird weigh? 0.028-0.032 kg ### How long does Eastern Bluebird live? 6-10 years ### How fast can Eastern Bluebird move? 55 km/h ### What does Eastern Bluebird eat? Eastern Bluebirds feast on insects in summer and switch to a tasty diet of berries and fruits in winter. ### Where is Eastern Bluebird usually found? Open fields, gardens, and woodlands ## Where to spot - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Black Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-creek-park) — New York, US · Park - [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Brewton Historic Commercial District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brewton-historic-commercial-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-bluebird) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Eastern Bluebird: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird)