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Distinctions. A solidly blue-backed bird with red throat, breast, and flanks. The 
Western Bluebird is similar but is a more purplish blue, and the throat is blue as well as the 
crown. The Mountain Bluebird is a much paler blue, but is also blue on the breast. Adult 
Eastern Bluebirds are, therefore, easily recognized. Females with more or less red on breast 
are to be confused only with the western female, the latter, however, has a distinctly grey 
throat. The breast of the female Mountain Bluebird is dull, light grey-ochre without 
any hint of red. Juveniles, lately from the nest, are easily known from those of the Moun- 
tain Bluebird by the darker tone of the blue on wings and tail, it being dark sky-blue instead of 
pale blue. Probably sometimes with difficulty separated from the young Western Bluebird, 
as the colouring of the blue at this age is practically the same in both species. The latter, 
however, has a suggestion of grey on throat. In practice, however, it is not likely 
that the Eastern species will ever be confused with the Western as their ranges are not 
known to overlap. 
Field Marks. A blue-backed bird with solid reddish throat, breast, and flanks. In 
young birds distinguished from the Mountain Bluebird by the deeper tone of the blue 
most strongly suggested on wings and tail. 
Nesting. In hollow trees, posts, or stubs or in artificial nest boxes; nest of grasses. 
Distribution. Temperate eastern North America. In Canada, across the southern 
part of the Dominion commonly to Manitoba, more rarely in Saskatchewan. 
SUBSPECIES. The Bluebird of northern North America is the type from Sialia 
sialis sialis. 
With the Robin and the Meadowlark in the spring comes the Blue- 
bird, its brilliant coat shining like a jewel against the dead grass landscape, 
and its low, flowing warble giving promise of pleasant days. In the summer 
it nests freely in the bird boxes in the garden, the fence-post out in the 
fields, or the old deserted flicker-hole in the telegraph pole by the wayside. 
In autumn its musical little warble is forgotten and it confines itself to a 
low voiced “Purity-purity ” , usually heard coming down from birds passing 
high over head. 
Economic Status. The Bluebird feeds mainly upon insects and is, 
therefore, highly beneficial. Weed seeds form an important part of its 
food and it eats some soft fruit, but practically no cultivated kinds are 
taken. Hence the Bluebird may be regarded as a consistently useful bird. 
767. Western Bluebird. Sialia mexicana. L, 7. Plate LXXXIII B. Spring 
male: above from crown to tail, including face and throat, intense, deep purplish blue; 
more or less complete bar of chestnut across back and shoulders. Breast and flanks rich 
chestnut red. Abdomen dull blue lightening to white under tail. Female: similar but 
duller and blue of throat replaced with slate grey. Juveniles have back largely dark 
brown with many white flecks. Underparts spotted with rich brown and white. Throat 
slightly greying m general tone. Blue only showing strongly on wings and tail. 
Distinctions. A solidly blue-backed bird with more or less chestnut bar across shoul- 
ders and back, a blue throat, and red breast. Most like the Eastern Bluebird, but with 
blue throat instead of red, and the blue deeper and more purplish. The Mountain Blue- 
bird is much paler blue and is solidly and completely blue. Adult Western Bluebirds are, 
therefore, easily recognized. Females with more or less red on breast are to be confused 
only with the Eastern Bluebird, but have a slate-grey throat. Juveniles lately from the 
nest are easily known from those of the Mountain Bluebird by the deeper blue on wings 
and tail, but probably with difficulty separated from the young Eastern Bluebird as the 
colouring at this age is practically the same; the Western bird, however, has usually a sug- 
gestion of grey tone on the throat. In practice, it is not likely that the Western will ever 
be confused with the Eastern as their ranges are not known to overlap. 
Field Marks. A Bluebird with a red breast and blue throat. Young birds recognized 
from the Mountain Bluebird by the deeper tone of the blue suggested on wings and tail. 
Nesting. In woodpecker-holes or natural hollows in stubs. It takes kindly to nesting 
boxes. 
