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M. Amsler—Recently Imported Bluebirds



When I was a boy and fairly adept with a catapult the one bird

which it was bad form to shoot was the Robin and the same state of

affairs holds good with Bluebirds in America. The resemblance goes

further, for Bluebirds are very friendly and love to build their nests

in the neighbourhood of houses and farmsteads. Any site which is at

all possible such as an old tin can, a ledge under the eaves, or a hole

in a rotten trunk being acceptable for a home. Artificial nest-boxes

are also readily occupied. Like our own Robin, Bluebirds are so

confiding that they are the very easiest prey to the simplest form of

trap baited with a few mealworms or other insects. In the absence of

protection they could be trapped and exported in large numbers to

this and other countries where they would find a ready sale. It is not

so very many years ago that the Blue Robin could be bought from

Hamlyn at the London docks for 15s. to 25s. a pair.


Three species of Bluebirds are recognized and the following notes

are written from my own observation amplified by Taverner’s Birds

of Canada and also from The Home Life of Wild Birds by Herrick.


The Red-breasted or Eastern Bluebird ( Sialia sialis) : This is the

species with which we are all familiar and one which has been freely

bred in this country for many years. Above, from crown to tail

including face, deep blue, breast and flanks chestnut red. Abdomen

definitely white. Female similar but duller.


Taverner in distinguishing this species from the Western does not

stress the white abdomen of the Eastern variety.


The female Eastern might be confused with the Western, but the

latter has a distinctly greyish throat and the lower abdomen is grey-

blue instead of white. Herrick, writing from Cleveland, describes the

males as arriving about the 20th March, the females following a few

days later. The call note of the male is well described by the words

“ Purity-purity


The Chestnut-backed or Western Bluebird ( Sialia mexicana

occidentalis) : Above, from crown to tail, including face and throat ,

intense deep purplish blue. An indefinite collar of chestnut extends

backwards from the breast and flanks which are rich chestnut red.

It is this collar band which gives the bird its somewhat misleading

name of “ Chestnut-backed The abdomen is dull blue.



