Montana's Mountain Bluebird - a flash of blue brilliance

Mountain bluebirds on the Bitterroot River
female (left) and male (right)
Photo by Merle Ann Loman

The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is a common site in western Montana during the summer. You have probably seen the "brilliant blue flash" of a bird or flock of birds. They are almost immediately recognizable. You're likely to see them on fence wires and the tops of tall grasses. All three species of bluebirds, mountain, western and eastern are found in Montana. The Mountain Bluebird prefers more open habitats than the other bluebirds and can be found in colder habitats in winter. They are also the only one of the three that are totally blue. The others have sky blue backs and reddish breasts.

It is the state bird of our neighbors Idaho and Nevada.

• Be a sponsor of this Examiner - connect with their audience and with yours!
• See slideshow of bluebird photos
• more about birds in the Bitterroot

Mountain Bluebirds eat mainly insects. A distinct behavior is hawking for insects while hovering in flight. They rely heavily on man-made nesting boxes for nesting space. Bluebird nesting boxes are usually placed on fence posts in open meadows and are your first clue to expect sighting bluebirds.

Bluebird on a fence post
Photo by Merle Ann Loman

Only the female builds the nest. The male sometimes acts as if he is helping, but he either brings no nest material or he drops it on the way.

The Mountain Bluebird is a medium-sized songbird bird weighing about an ounce, with a length from 6–8 in. They have light underbellies and black eyes. Adult males have thin bills. They are bright blue and somewhat lighter beneath. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, faintly grey breast, grey crown, throat and back. Her chest may have some reddish and some females are more gray/brown than others. The juvienile has a spotted chest and unspotted back with blue wings and tail. Overall, they are more dull than the adult.

A flock of bluebirds
Photo by Merle Ann Loman

The Mountain Bluebird courtship is quite an ordeal. The male usually arrives at the breeding territory a few days ahead of the female and selects what he considers to be a suitable summer home. He begins singing beautiful love songs day after day until the female appears. He then flutters about, spreading his tail wide and arcing his wings again warbling in soft undertones to the female. He perches next to her and carresses her with his beak, all the while still singing to her. If she needs more persuasion, he finds a tender morsel and places it in her mouth. As the dance goes on, he attempts to lead her to the nest he has selected, but she usually needs more wooing before she accepts him as her mate.

If a rival male comes along, they will engage in a rough and tumble fight, clinching in the air and falling to the ground together. You might think they are hurt, but they separate in a flurry of feathers and continue to try to charm the female. Eventually, she accepts one of the males as her mate and they fly off in the direction of his nest. Not only do the males rival one another for a mate, so do the females. Much energy is put into the summer pairing of the Mountain Bluebird.

If you like these articles, be the first to see them, subscribe by email (see subscribe button above), by RSS, Twitter, or Facebook.

Learn how to be a sponsor of this Examiner, connect with their audience and yours.