Birds Active during the day

Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

The Mountain Bluebird is a vibrant splash of sky fallen to earth. This hardy mountain traveler is beloved for its brilliant turquoise feathers and its unique ability to hunt while hovering in mid-air.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in); Wingspan: 28–36 cm (11–14 in); Weight: 27–33 g (0.95–1.16 oz)

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Colors

Adult males are a brilliant, uniform cerulean or turquoise blue, paler on the belly. Females are mostly soft gray with blue highlights on wings and tail, and a white lower belly.

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Key Features

Brilliant turquoise-blue plumage on males
Thin, straight bill for insect eating
Unique hovering or 'kiting' flight while hunting
Lack of rufous/orange on the breast compared to other bluebirds

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season March-August

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Diet Primarily insectivorous during summer, eating beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders; shifts to berries (juniper, mistletoe, sumac) in winter.

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Habitat Open country including mountain meadows, grasslands, sagebrush flats, and high-elevation parklands.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Mountain Bluebird Live?

Native to the mountainous regions of Western North America, the Mountain Bluebird thrives from the subarctic tundra of Alaska and the Yukon down through the western United States. Their core range extends through the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin, stretching as far east as the western Dakotas and Oklahoma during the breeding season. In the winter months, these migratory birds move to the southwestern United States and central Mexico, seeking out lower elevations and warmer climates where food remains plentiful.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

3 Countries

4.6M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States CA Canada MX Mexico

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

Mountain Bluebirds are charismatic and social thrushes, well-known for their graceful hunting style. Unlike their eastern and western cousins, they frequently hunt by hovering in mid-air over open fields, a behavior known as 'kiting,' before pouncing on insects in the grass. They are cavity nesters that readily take to man-made nest boxes, making them a common sight in rural and suburban areas where appropriate housing is provided.

During the breeding season, males are highly territorial and can be seen perched prominently on fence posts or low branches, singing a warbling song to defend their space. In the winter, their social structure shifts significantly; they gather in large, nomadic flocks that roam through juniper forests and lower-elevation scrublands in search of berries. Their interaction with humans is generally peaceful, and they are considered a welcome sign of spring across the western mountains.

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Camera Tips

To capture the breathtaking turquoise of a Mountain Bluebird on your backyard camera, placement is everything. These birds prefer open vistas and wide-of-sight views, so position your AI-powered camera near a nesting box or a favorite hunting perch like a fence post or a T-post. Setting the camera at a height of 4 to 5 feet, angled slightly upward toward the perch, will help you capture both their vibrant underbelly and their distinctive hovering flight maneuvers.

Since Mountain Bluebirds are primarily insect-eaters, a standard birdseed mix won't lure them in. Instead, use a shallow dish of live or dried mealworms placed within 3 to 6 feet of the camera lens. During the spring nesting season, you can also attract them with a birdbath; the splashing movement often triggers the motion sensors on trail cameras, providing excellent footage of their social behavior and preening.

Lighting is the 'secret sauce' for bluebird photography. Because their blue color is structural (caused by light scattering rather than pigment), they look most vibrant in direct sunlight. Place your camera facing north or south to avoid harsh backlighting, ensuring the sun illuminates the bird's chest and wings. Early morning hours are the most productive, as these birds are most active in the first few hours after sunrise when they are hungriest and the light is softest.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Mountain Bluebird.

Western Bluebird

Western Bluebirds have a bright orange-red breast and throat, whereas Mountain Bluebirds are solid turquoise-blue on their front.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebirds feature a warm reddish-brown throat and breast and are typically found further east, though ranges occasionally overlap in the plains.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Mountain Bluebirds are most active during the daylight hours, with peak activity occurring in the early morning shortly after sunrise and again in the late afternoon. This is when they are most focused on foraging for insects to feed themselves or their fledglings.

The best way to attract Mountain Bluebirds is to provide a specialized nesting box in an open, grassy area and offer mealworms at a feeder. They are also drawn to birdbaths and properties that avoid heavy pesticide use, which ensures a healthy supply of the insects they need.

During the summer, their diet is almost entirely made up of insects like grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and spiders. In the winter, when insects are scarce, they rely on small fruits and berries, particularly juniper berries, to survive the colder months.

They are common in suburban areas that border open spaces, fields, or golf courses. They generally avoid densely wooded suburbs, preferring yards with wide-open lawns and few large trees that might harbor predators like hawks or house wrens.

The easiest way is to look at the breast. Mountain Bluebird males are entirely blue with a white belly, whereas Western Bluebirds have a distinct rusty-orange or chestnut-colored breast and back patches. Female Mountain Bluebirds are also grayer overall than female Western Bluebirds.

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