Birds of Cuba, Vagrant Visitors, Introduced Birds and Possibilities

Eastern Bluebird

Merlebleu de l'Est

Sialia sialis

Life, Habitat & Pictures of the Eastern Bluebird

B L	W W	W	Family	Latin Name
7" 17.78cm	13" 33.02cm	1.1oz 31.19g	Turdidae	Sialia sialis

Species: The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialia) is seen throughout eastern North America. This bluebird has an early arrival date in Canada. It usually arrives at the same time as the American Robin and the Eastern Phoebe. After a noticeable decline in their numbers, mainly because of the competition for nesting sites with Tree Swallows, House Sparrows and Starlings, these birds are now making a strong comeback. The reason for this, is because of the large number of artificial nesting boxes with entrance holes tailored to the body size of the bluebirds. This prevents larger birds accessibility. These boxes are being installed by volunteers and can be seen throughout the countryside, attached to fenceposts and trees.

Distinctions: The male has a dark blue back, head and tail feathers and a rusty-coloured red throat, breast and flank, with a white belly. The female has similar colours, except with a duller tone. The juvenile has a browner body with white speckles, blue wings and tail feather.

Voice: A low warbling song, separate call notes in flight, quiet on most occasions.

Nesting: Five to six pale blue eggs, two broods per year. These birds nest in tree cavities, holes in fenceposts and birdhouses. They prefer sparsely treed fields, meadows and open forests. They usualy perch on the lower limbs of a tree or fencepost, where it is able to pounce on unsuspecting insects or grubs on the ground.

Distribution: Arrives into Canada in early April, gathers into flocks in the fall, migrates into the south in late October. It is seen from Nova Scotia, west through the Canadian provinces to Saskatchewan, south through the Central USA States into New Mexico, and east to the tip of Florida. It has been reported as a very rare bird seen in Cuba.

Birds of Cuba