Bluebird: Difference between revisions
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{{otheruses}} |
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{{Taxobox |
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| name = Bluebirds |
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| image = EasternbluebirdB9.jpg |
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| image_caption = Eastern Bluebird |
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| image_width = 250px |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
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| classis = [[bird|Aves]] |
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| ordo = [[Passerine|Passeriformes]] |
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| familia = [[thrush (bird)|Turdidae]] |
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| genus = '''''Sialia''''' |
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| subdivision_ranks = Species |
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| subdivision = |
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*''[[Sialia sialis]]'' |
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*''[[Sialia mexicana]]'' |
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*''[[Sialia currucoides]]'' |
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}} |
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[[Image:Mountainbluebird30.JPG|thumb|right|Mountain Bluebird]] |
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[[Image:Westernbluebird.jpg|thumb|right|Western Bluebird]] |
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The '''bluebirds''' are medium-sized, mostly insectivorous or omnivorous [[bird]]s in the genus ''Sialia'' of the [[thrush (bird)|thrush]] family Turdidae. |
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These are one of the relatively few thrush genera to be restricted to the [[Americas]]. As the name implies, these are attractive birds with blue, or blue and red, plumage. Female birds are less brightly colored than males, although color patterns are similar and there is no noticeable difference in size between sexes. |
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Species: |
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* [[Eastern Bluebird]], ''Sialia sialis'' |
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* [[Western Bluebird]], ''Sialia mexicana'' |
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* [[Mountain Bluebird]], ''Sialia currucoides'' |
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== Behavior == |
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Bluebirds are territorial, prefer open grassland with scattered trees and are cavity nesters (similar to many species of [[woodpecker]]). Bluebirds can typically produce between two to four broods during the spring and summer (March through August in the [[Northeastern United States]]). Males identify potential nest sites and try to attract prospective female mates to those nesting sites with special behaviors that include singing and flapping wings, and then placing some material in a nesting box or cavity. If the female accepts the male and the nesting site, she alone builds the nest and incubates the eggs. |
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Predators of young bluebirds in the nests can include snakes, cats and raccoons. Non-native bird species competing with bluebirds for nesting locations include the [[Common Starling]] and [[House Sparrow]], both of which kill adult bluebirds sitting on their nests along with the young and eggs in order to claim the nesting site.<ref>[http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/JFO/v055n03/p0378-p0380.pdf "House Sparrows Kill Eastern Bluebirds"] by Patricia Adair Gowaty in [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/JFO/index.php Journal of Field Ornithology], Volume 55, Number 3, Summer, 1984, pp. 378-380.</ref> |
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Bluebirds are attracted to platform bird feeders, filled with grubs of the darkling beetle, sold by many online bird product wholesalers as [[mealworm]]s. Bluebirds will also eat raisins soaked in water. In addition, in winter bluebirds use backyard heated birdbaths. |
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By the 1970s, bluebird numbers had declined by estimates ranging to 70% due to unsuccessful competition with [[house sparrow]]s and [[starlings]], both [[introduced species]], for nesting cavities, coupled with a decline in habitat. However, in late 2005 Cornell University's [[Cornell_Laboratory_of_Ornithology|Lab of Ornithology]] reported bluebird sightings at many locations in the southern U.S. as part of its yearly [[Backyard Bird Count]], a strong indication of the bluebird's return to the region. This upsurge can largely be attributed to a movement of volunteers establishing and maintaining bluebird trails. |
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== In Song == |
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Bluebirds are featured in several songs. [[Al Jolson]] sang of Bluebirds in "April Showers". [[Vera Lynn]] famously proclaimed that there would be "Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs Of Dover" in her popular war-time melody. But perhaps the artist most associated with the bluebird is [[Judy Garland]]. Her immortal "[[Over the Rainbow]]" from the equally legendary ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'', proclaimed her belief that "If happy little bluebirds fly above the rainbow, why oh why can't I". A few years later in the movie [[Ziegfeld Girl]] she admitted in the song "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" that she was "waiting to find a little bluebird in vain." Indeed one of the final songs Garland sang in a movie was "Hello Bluebird" from [[I Could Go On Singing]]. Also in the 1934 famous Christmas Song "Winter Wonderland" (eg performed by the Andrew Sisters) the bluebird at least appears as "being gone", suggesting that this bird is indeed a migrating one. |
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== Footnotes == |
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<references/> |
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== External links == |
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*[http://www.bluebirdnut.com Bluebird Nut] Webite Dedicated to Bluebird Education & Awareness. |
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*[http://www.bluebirdnutcafe.com Bluebird Nut Cafe] Free Bluebird Discussion & Informational Group, Newcomers Welcome! |
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*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/bluebirds/joinbblist.html Cornell BLUEBIRD-L email list] - Caution: this is a high traffic list. However, users are welcoming and eager to provide information on a range of subjects to bluebird enthusiasts with diverse levels of birding experience. |
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*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Bluebird.html Eastern Bluebird] Cornell descriptions, including range, calls and physical description |
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*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Bluebird.html Western Bluebird] Cornell descriptions, including range, calls and physical description |
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*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mountain_Bluebird.html Mountain Bluebird] Cornell descriptions, including range, calls and physical description |
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*[http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=137 Bluebird videos] on the Internet Bird Collection |
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*[http://bluebirdia.homegrowngoodies.com/ Bluebird Information and Awareness] Dedicated to educating the public about the needs of the bluebird and providing the information needed to help them. |
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*[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/06/0612_020612_birds.html National Geographic News article] Covers N.A. Breeding Bird Survey, birdhouses, bluebird recovery |
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*[http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/ North American Bluebird Society] Dedicated to promoting the preservation of bluebirds. |
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*[http://www.sialis.org Sialis] Information on bluebirds and their conservation and restoration. |
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{{commons|Sialia}} |
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[[Category:Bluebirds| ]] |
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[[Category:Genera of birds]] |
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[[Category:Heraldic birds]] |
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[[de:Hüttensänger]] |
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[[fr:Merlebleu]] |
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[[la:Sialia]] |
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[[lt:Mėlynieji strazdai]] |
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Revision as of 15:05, 7 March 2008
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