Scientific Name:
Sialia mexicana
Description
Blue-headed and rust-chested thrush full of charm. These birds have thin bills and short tails with very blue wings in the males. Females are more dull, but their pattern follows that of the male coloration.
Behaviors
Insect eaters but shifting to berries in the Fall.
The male Western Bluebird provides significant parental care, often sharing equally with the female in feeding the chicks after they hatch. While the female is primarily responsible for building the nest and incubating the eggs, the male heavily defends the territory and, upon hatching, becomes a key provider.
Fun Facts
Studies showed that 45% of the bluebird nests had young that were not fathered by the defending male! Yikes.
