The Elegant Eastern Bluebird

The elegant Eastern Bluebird is most noted for its vivid blue head, back, wings and tail, chestnut red colored breast, and white belly. Females are not as brightly colored as males, but still have noticeable blue features. A small bird, measuring only about 7 inches in height , the bluebird has a small but strong black beak and big black eyes.

Commonly found along the edges of woodlands and meadows, the Eastern Bluebird avoids areas where there are lots of dense trees or people. They make their nests in old woodpecker cavities, in places where they are near open woodlands or in areas of scattered trees.

The Eastern Bluebird enjoys feasting on various types of insects, including caterpillars, grasshoppers and moths. The bluebird catches insects by perching on a low branch of a tree or shrub and dropping down on its prey. Wild fruits and berries are also a favorite, especially during the winter months.

The population of Eastern Bluebirds in Ohio had declined through the 1960’s and 1970’s. This was largely due to competition for nesting spots from other cavity dwelling birds. However, beginning in the early 1980’s, with the help of people building nesting boxes, bluebird numbers began increasing. Today, the numbers of bluebirds are reaching record highs. The bluebird is also more widely distributed now than it was long ago as people all over Ohio are working to provide suitable habitat to attract these delicate little birds.

The Eastern Bluebird has recently found another new home, on the license plate for Ohio State Parks!

To find out more about these beautiful new plates and how they are helping Ohio’s State Parks, see: http://www.ohiodnr.com/news/mar05/0316bluebird.htm