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Bluebirds were once common across Ohio when the countryside was composed of a mixture of small fields of hay, oats, corn, pastures, and orchards. As farming changed to a more monoculture approach -- extensive fields of corn and soybeans -- away from pastures and orchards, bluebird habitat declined in Ohio. Additionally, the introduction of the European starling and house sparrow increased competition for the few nesting cavities available. Both factors have contributed to a decline in bluebirds in the state.
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Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
At-a-Glance
• Mating: Monogamous; birds form a pair and work together to rear the young
• Peak Breeding Activity: April and July; bluebirds nest March through August
• Incubation: 13-16 days
• Young are Hatched: Mostly in April and July
• Clutch Size: 3-7 eggs
• Young Fledge: 15-20 days after hatching
• Number of Broods per Year: 2
• Migration Patterns: Some migrate south in the winter, others remain in the southern portions of the state
• Typical Foods: Insects in the summer, fruits and seeds in the winter
• Native to Ohio: No, most likely migrated to the state as settlement cleared forests and farms were established.
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Description
The Eastern bluebird is also known as the blue robin or the blue redbreast. These names can be attributed to the birds appearance; the Eastern bluebird is the only bird with a bright royal blue back in combination with a rusty-colored breast. Females are a paler version of the males.
Habitat and Habits
Eastern bluebirds are often found near old field borders adjacent to short grasses. Highway rights-of-way, orchards, golf courses, and parks are frequently the home of a pair or more of this species. Those pairs often use man-made nest boxes that bluebird enthusiasts erect in suitable habitats. Nest boxes can attract these birds to fields where they have never been seen before. Bluebirds are often recognized by their distinctive chur-wi call that is used to locate the singer -- often perched on a fencepost or power line.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Pairs of bluebirds begin their nesting season by choosing a natural cavity or an abandoned woodpecker hole in a post or tree, or perhabps a man-made nesting box. The bottom is lined with grass before the female begins laying her eggs. The female does most of the incubating while the male remains nearby. After the young hatch, both parents share in feeding them.
Young birds that have just left the nest are mostly gray, with just a touch of blue in their wings and tail. Their breasts are spotted much like those of baby robins. Males continue to feed the fledglings until the young become self-sufficient.
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