Western Bluebird

The Western Bluebird is our featured backyard bird for December. At this time of year, you’ll find these birds in trees around your neighborhood, enjoying winter fruits and berries - look up!

Male Western Bluebirds are a brilliant azure blue on their heads, wings, and tail, with a rusty-red breast and a gray belly. Females are less brightly colored than males, often appearing more gray than blue, with a light copper wash on the breast. Young birds resemble females, but have a dark breast and back speckled with white spots. In the winter, bluebirds’ feathers may seem duller than during the spring breeding season.

Western Bluebirds are year-round residents of Santa Clara County and nest here in the springtime. They are cavity nesters, and you can help them and other birds by putting up nest boxes. Find out more - how to build, maintain, and monitor nest boxes, and how to volunteer to monitor nest boxes throughout the county - at our Cavity Nesters Recovery Program page.

Enjoy our photo gallery of Western Bluebirds, with images contributed by SCVAS members and friends.

Want to learn more about backyard birds? Take a look at our Backyard Bird Grid, which has links to ID tips and fun facts about common bird species in our area.

Text by SCVAS Member Julie Amato

Banner photo: Western Bluebird by Teresa Cheng