Mealworms are the larvae of the beetle Tenebrio molitor. Birds such as chickadees, bluebirds, wrens and woodpeckers will eat mealworms, if they are placed in a feeder accessible to the birds. Because mealworms can crawl, it is best to place them in a feeder where they cannot crawl out.
Mealworms can be kept for weeks at 40 – 50° F. For longer storage they should be placed in bran flakes, wheat bran or corn meal in a container having air holes. A potato or apple slice should be kept in the container for the worms to use as a moisture source. *Contact your local Wild Birds Unlimited Store for product availability. Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores.
Jim’s Birdacious® Bark Butter® Bits are bite-sized nuggets made of rendered beef suet, soy oil, roasted peanuts, corn, oats and calcium carbonate. Bark Butter Bits allow you to easily offer Bark Butter in tray, seed tube and hopper feeders. Just add them to your feeder to attract a variety of birds, including many that do not normally visit feeders.
Jim Carpenter is the founder and CEO of Wild Birds Unlimited and the creator of Jim’s Birdacious Bark Butter products. *Contact your local Wild Birds Unlimited Store for product availability. Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores.
Get more birds for your bucks by offering sunflower seeds without their shells. No shells means no mess under your feeder. Hulled sunflower seeds have a high oil content and provide birds with an extra kick of energy. It’s an ideal seed to offer in feeders near patios, sidewalks or balconies. Offering hulled sunflower is also cost efficient, because you’re not paying for the shells that are not consumed. *Contact your local Wild Birds Unlimited Store for product availability. Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores.
Perfect for offering Jim’s Birdacious® Treats, our Spiral TreatTray features three easy-to-fill cups and provides unobstructed views of visiting birds. Offering different Treats allows you to discover the diverse food preferences of your backyard birds. The Spiral TreatTray is easy to hang, and it accommodates clinging birds (such as woodpeckers) and perching birds (such as chickadees).
(Bird food not included.) *Contact your local Wild Birds Unlimited Store for product availability. Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores.
Tray Feeders allow birds to easily locate seed. Try placing the versatile EcoTough® Tray Feeder in your favorite viewing area and attract a diverse group of birds by offering different types of bird seed, peanuts, suet snacks or fruit.
EcoTough feeders and houses are environmentally friendly, high quality products that are made from recycled plastic, keeping used plastics from making their way into our landfills.
(Bird food and crook arm not included.) *Contact your local Wild Birds Unlimited Store for product availability. Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores.
Our top-of-the-line bluebird house includes all of the key elements needed for a successful nesting experience for both tenant and landlord. It’s the ideal size for bluebirds, and it includes the proper drainage and ventilation to keep babies dry. Our unique two-way opening system makes cleaning, maintenance and monitoring a snap.
EcoTough® feeders and houses are environmentally friendly, high quality products that are made from recycled plastic. These feeders and houses prevent used plastics from making their way into our landfills. EcoTough feeders and houses won’t rot, crack, fade or warp like wood can. *Contact your local Wild Birds Unlimited Store for product availability. Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores.
Our exclusive, patented Advanced Pole System® (APS) Basic Setup is the perfect beginning to your ultimate bird feeding, housing and/or watering station designed to meet your own individual needs.
Just twist the 3-foot base pole into the ground using the convenient corkscrew auger. Next slide the Stabilizer onto the base pole and push into the ground (Tests show the stabilizer holds the pole straight in up to 35 MPH wind gusts). Add the extension pole and dual flange (specially-designed to mount birdfeeders or houses), and then top it with a bird house or with a hopper feeder.
Also, be sure to shop through our other bird feeding supplies to complement all your bird feeding needs.
Blue birds are a fascinating group of medium-sized, insectivorous or omnivorous passerine birds belonging to the genus Sialia of the thrush family (Turdidae). Found across various regions of North and South America, blue birds come in different sizes and exhibit some truly remarkable behaviors In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the many types of blue birds, their preferred habitats, breeding and feeding habits, migration patterns, and cultural significance.
An Overview of Blue Birds
There are 3 main species of blue birds in the Sialia genus
- Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
- Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
- Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
These small- to medium-sized birds have mostly blue, or blue and rose beige plumage. Females are less brightly colored than males, but there is no major difference in size between the sexes.
Bluebirds are territorial and prefer open grassland with some scattered trees, similar to many woodpecker species. They can produce 2-4 broods each spring and summer, from March through August in northeastern parts of North America.
Habitats and Ranges of Blue Bird Species
Each of the 3 blue bird species has a distinct habitat range:
Eastern Bluebird
- Range: East-central southern Canada to the U.S. Gulf states, and southeastern Arizona to Nicaragua
- Habitat: Open country with scattered trees; meadows, old fields, farms, parks, and gardens
Western Bluebird
- Range: Western U.S. including California, the southern Rocky Mountains, Arizona, New Mexico; south to Mexico
- Habitat: Open coniferous woodlands, oak savannas, orchards, parks, logged or burned forests
Mountain Bluebird
- Range: Western North America
- Habitat: Open terrain at higher mountain elevations, prairies, meadows, tundra
Unique Behavioral Traits
Bluebirds exhibit some fascinating behaviors related to breeding displays, communication, feeding, migration, and more:
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Males identify nest sites and display to attract females using song, wing-flapping, placing nesting material
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Only female bluebirds build nests and incubate eggs; males participate little in nesting
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Bluebirds are very territorial during breeding season and defend nesting areas aggressively
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They have intricate, melodious calls used for attracting mates and defending territories
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Partially migratory depending on range; northern populations migrate south for winter
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Omnivorous; feed on insects, spiders, fruit, seeds, small lizards and tree frogs
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Fond of mealworms; attracted to platform feeders stocked with beetle grubs
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Use heated birdbaths in winter to maintain energy levels in cold weather
Breeding and Nesting
Here are some key facts about bluebird breeding and nesting habits:
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Nesting season lasts from March to August generally
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Females build nests in cavities of trees, nest boxes, old woodpecker holes
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Clutch size ranges from 4-6 eggs
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Females alone incubate eggs for 13-19 days until hatching
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Chicks fledge around 18 days after hatching; may stay with parents group long term
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Both parents feed newly hatched chicks via regurgitation
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May raise 2-4 broods per breeding season
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Nestlings threatened by snakes, cats, raccoons; parents defend aggressively
Conservation Status and Threats
By the 1970s, bluebird numbers had declined sharply due to competition for nesting sites with non-native species like House Sparrows and European Starlings. However, dedicated nest box programs have aided their resurgence.
None of the bluebird species are globally threatened. But localized populations face ongoing threats:
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Competition for nesting cavities
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Habitat loss from development and logging
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Pesticides reducing insect food supplies
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Extreme weather events
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Nest predation by cats, raccoons, snakes
Continued nest box programs and habitat conservation are important for maintaining bluebird populations.
Cultural and Historical Significance
Blue birds have captured the human imagination for millennia as symbols of happiness and good fortune.
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Iroquois traditions see the bluebird’s call as warding off winter’s icy grip
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Symbol of hope during WWII in songs like “There’ll Be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover”
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Bluebird of Happiness is a classic 1934 song celebrating their joyful nature
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Featured in poetry, literature, art as muses due to their beauty and song
Other Info About Them
The Western Bluebird is a partial migrant in most of its range changing its altitude rather than latitude during breeding season. The Northwestern and British Columbia populations are more migratory.
The Eastern Bluebird is more migratory in its northern range and a non-migratory, year-round resident in its southern range.
The Mountain Bluebird is the most migratory of the bluebirds but is non-migratory in a small part of its range in parts of the West and Southwest.
What Foods Do They Eat?
Mealworms, Bark Butter®, Bark Butter Bits, suet, peanut pieces, sunflower chips, raisins, currants, grapes
Magnificent Blue Birds | Stunning Nature | Relaxing Birds Sound | Symphony of Serenity – No Music
FAQ
What draws bluebirds to your yard?
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Food:
- Mealworms: Bluebirds are particularly fond of mealworms, which are a great source of protein, especially during nesting season. You can offer them live or freeze-dried mealworms in a feeder.
- Other Foods: Bluebirds also eat insects, moths, and larvae, so consider planting berry-producing native shrubs and trees to provide food sources naturally.
- Suet and Seeds: While not their primary food source, bluebirds may also enjoy suet, peanuts, shelled sunflower seeds, and dried fruits like raisins and cherries.
- Mealworms: Bluebirds are particularly fond of mealworms, which are a great source of protein, especially during nesting season. You can offer them live or freeze-dried mealworms in a feeder.
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Water:
- Birdbaths: Provide a birdbath with a small dripper or fountain to attract bluebirds, as they need water for drinking and bathing.
- Birdbaths: Provide a birdbath with a small dripper or fountain to attract bluebirds, as they need water for drinking and bathing.
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Nesting:
- Open Areas: Bluebirds prefer open areas with minimal underbrush and low ground cover, so keep your yard tidy and well-maintained.
- Birdhouses: Install specifically designed bluebird houses, ensuring they are clean and well-maintained.
- Perches: Provide perches near open space, like short wooden poles, where bluebirds can hunt for insects.
- Open Areas: Bluebirds prefer open areas with minimal underbrush and low ground cover, so keep your yard tidy and well-maintained.
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Other Tips:
- Avoid Pesticides: Refrain from using pesticides in your yard, as they can harm bluebirds and their food sources.
- Leave Dead Trees: Allow some dead trees to stand, as they can provide nesting sites for other birds that bluebirds may rely on.
- Keep Nesting Material Around: Leave some loose grass or other natural materials around your yard, as bluebirds may use them for nesting.
- Avoid Pesticides: Refrain from using pesticides in your yard, as they can harm bluebirds and their food sources.
What is the best food for bluebirds?
Bluebirds may partake of other foods like dried mealworms, suet, Bluebird nuggets (a type of suet), raisins, blueberries, chopped apple and grape. Experiment and let us know your results. Location is important. Don’t try to feed them near birdfeeders or a place that gets a lot of bird traffic.
Are bluebirds rare to see?
Bluebirds are common in open areas like pastures, fields, parks, golf courses and even sometimes backyards. Bluebirds are mainly insectivores, eating a variety of insects that they snatch off the ground. In the fall and winter they switch their diet to mainly fruit, according to the Cornell Lab.
What are the blue birds called?
Our three blue songbirds are the blue jay, the eastern bluebird and the indigo bunting. The indigo bunting is the brightest blue of the group — and not as often confused with bluebirds and blue jays.
Why is a bluebird called a Bluebird?
Votes: 0 The bluebird is well named, for he wears a coat of the purest, richest, and most gorgeous blue on back, wings, and tail; no North American bird better deserves the name, for no other flashes before our admiring eyes so much brilliant blue.
Do bluebirds have more than one brood a year?
Eastern Bluebirds typically have more than one successful brood per year. Young produced in early nests usually leave their parents in summer, but young from later nests frequently stay with their parents over the winter. Eastern Bluebirds occur across eastern North America and south as far as Nicaragua.
How can I join the North American bluebird Society?
You can also join our conservation efforts by becoming a NABS member. The North American Bluebird Society is a non-profit education, conservation and research organization that promotes the recovery of bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting bird species in North America.