Mountain Bluebird vs. Western Bluebird

Sialia currucoides vs. Sialia Mexicana

On a recent walk in our neighborhood, I saw some large flocks of bright blue birds. I couldn’t tell if they were Western Bluebirds, or Mountain Bluebirds. Some had rust colored chests and other were all blue. Turns out, we have BOTH species in our neighborhood!

We are very fortunate that both species overlap here. Colorado Springs is at the far Eastern edge of the Western Bluebird’s range, while being smack in the middle of the Mountain Bluebirds. They live in similar habitats, both preferring open woodlands.

It turns out the Western Bluebirds have the rusty chest, and the Mountain Bluebirds do not. In both species, the female is not as colorful. They have different hunting habits, too. While both eat insects, the Western Bluebird tends to drop suddenly to the ground to hunt, and the Mountain Bluebird hunts from perches or on the wing.

Both species are cavity nesters. Bluebirds will find holes in trees created by woodpeckers and use them for nesting. However, with dead, holey trees harder to come by, they have taken to using nest boxes. CornellLab’s NestWatch has some great nest box plans so you can invite some of these striking birds into your garden!

Mountain Bluebird by VJ Anderson on Wikimedia

Western Bluebird by Blalonde on Wikimedia