Educate Youeself About the Mountain bluebird
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD
The Mountain Bluebird has a thinner bill than other bluebirds, slimmer than other bluebirds, turquoise blue on upper side and paler below, whitish belly and long wings and tail. Its length is 7in (18cm) Its wingspan is 14in (35cm) Its voice is a low “chur” or “phew”, and song is a short subdued warble. Their eggs are pale blue or white, with 1 clutch when nesting at high elevations, and sometimes to at lower elevations, consisting of 5-6 or (4-8) eggs. Female incubates for 13-14 days, and fledging is for about 22-23 days. Both male and female feed their young. The female is dull brownish gray with a cast of blue on the rump.
The Mountain Bluebird is not only a very pretty backyard visitor; it is also extremely helpful in the ever loosing quest to keep thousands of insect pests, including beetles, grasshoppers and caterpillars away from us and our gardens. Get a bluebird to nest next to your vegetable garden, and your troubles are over, when it comes to pest control. The bluebird have next to no fear of people and will readily move into your lovely bird feeding garden, as long as there are some large, grassy open areas near by.
The Mountain Bluebird is mostly found in the western mountains, from Mexico to Alaska, and will frequently visit mountain meadows, just below the timberline at 12.000ft (3.600m), to foothills, and make habitats in groves of cottonwood and aspen. When the bluebirds hunt for his prey, he typically does so from a low perch or will hover over the ground before dropping to capture its delectable choice of insect. They also like to feast on many kinds of different berries, like currants, grapes, hackberries, elderberries, and mistletoe.
Unfortunately when it comes to nesting opportunities the Mountain Bluebird, and like other bluebird populations, has suffered a great deal due to the introduction of House Sparrows, and European Starlings. They compete aggressively over the limited number of natural nesting cavity spaces, such as the woodpecker holes. By the time the bluebirds has return from their migration in the spring, many of the natural nesting opportunities are already fully booked by sparrows and starlings. The female will build the nest that consists of dead grass, weed steams, rootlets, and fine twigs.
If you like to attract bluebirds to your lovely bird feeding garden, adding a beautiful stone birdbath will increase the “bluebird appeal”. But more importantly, put up birdhouses or nest boxes, 3-20ft (1-6m) above ground, far from shrubs, and human housing to reduce the competition with House Wrens and House Sparrows. Plant their favorite berry-producing shrubs like elderberry, grapes, and current, plus put out raisins and live mealworms, as a delectable treatGo to our section on NEST BOXES AND SHELFS to find out more.
