Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesGrasslandCavity nestSmall · 30 g

What the Mountain Bluebird sounds like

Sonogram of the Mountain Bluebird: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Blue Bell Campground, Custer State Park, South Dakota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Mountain Bluebird: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Blue Bell Campground, Custer State Park, South Dakota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The mountain bluebird is 15.5–18 cm (6.1–7.1 in) in length, weighs 24–37 g (0.85–1.31 oz), and has a wingspan of 11.0-14.2 in (28-36 cm). It is sexually dimorphic in the color of the plumage but the sexes are similar in size. An adult male is bright turquoise-blue above and somewhat lighter blue underneath but with a white lower belly. An adult female has duller blue wings and tail, grey breast, grey crown, throat and back. In fresh fall plumage, the female's throat and breast are brownish near the flank, contrasting with white tail underparts.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Mountain Bluebird

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 10 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is June, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Mountain Bluebird

Regular range

The map shades 5 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the Mountain Bluebird

The mountain bluebird is a migratory small thrush that is found in mountainous districts of western North America. It has a light underbelly and black eyes. Adult males have thin bills and are bright turquoise-blue and somewhat lighter underneath. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, grey breast, grey crown, throat and back. In fresh fall plumage, the female's throat and breast are tinged with red-orange which is brownish near the flank, contrasting with white tail underparts. Their call is a thin 'few' while their song is a warbled high 'chur chur'. The mountain bluebird is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada. This bird is an omnivore and it can live 6 to 10 years in the wild.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Eastern Bluebird vs Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Bluebird vs Western Bluebird · Mountain Bluebird vs Varied Thrush

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