bluebirds

The darker shade of grey including Mexico is where the Eastern Bluebird stays all year, the lighter color to the north is where some bluebirds head for spring, and the light shade of grey to the east of the darker area is the location where it may reach out during the winter months.

The Eastern Bluebird has 1-3 broods a year with a clutch size of 2-7 eggs that are mostly blue but can be white.  Incubation period is 11-19 days and nestling period is 17-21 days.

The diet is mostly insects and berries, such as crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, earthworms, and many others.

FEED

If you want to attract the Eastern Bluebird to your yard by feeding them, listed below are some food options these birds prefer.

FEEDERS

Eastern Bluebirds have been known to use a variety of bird feeders. But the two types of bird feeders listed below, are feeders the Eastern Bluebird prefers.  The pictures below are some examples.

MEALWORM FEEDERS

Any type of mealworm feeder can be used.  Some mealworm feeders may take more time to attract bluebirds to your yard. Watch how one birder was able to train bluebirds to eat from his bluebird feeder. " Video How To Train Bluebirds"

PLATFORM FEEDER

An Eastern Bluebird will use a platform feeder too. Any size, shape or style can be used.  All the food mentioned above can be placed on a platform feeder; also known as a tray feeder or fly thru feeder.

BIRDHOUSES

Birdhouses for the Eastern Bluebird can be any size, shape or design with the interior dimensions of a 5" x 5" floor to a 5.5" x 5.5" floor.  Interior height 8"-12".  Entry hole 1.5" diameter that is 6"-10" above the floor.  You can place your house 4'- 6' high off the ground facing the entry hole to the east towards an open area.  If you plan to to place more than one box for the Eastern Bluebird, place your nest boxes 300' apart to avoid territorial denomination.

Pictures below are some examples of Eastern Bluebird houses.

NOTE:

Some bluebird houses are sold with an oval hole or a slot at the top. Some birdhouses are built angled down towards the bottom, like one of the pictures above. If you would like to know why some bluebird houses are built different and the purpose it serves. View this article on "BLUEBIRD HOUSES"

WATER

Water is a fantastic way to attract the Eastern Bluebird, or just about any other bird to your yard.

Many bird baths and bird bath accessories to choose from.  Electric bird baths to a simple stand alone bird bath that you can add accessories to.

Interested in other song birds? Click here to view other song birds.

There are many types of bluebird feeders, but feeders bluebirds are most reluctant to use, will be a feeder they will have to enter.  Usually feeders for bluebirds get filled with live mealworms or dry mealworms but some bluebird feeders will also support fruit and jelly.

The video below will show you how one birder was able to train his bluebirds to use an enclosed feeder.

Similar feeders can be found in "Mealworm Bird Feeders"

Rarely does a bluebird figure out how to use an enclosed feeder on there own.  Some ways to train bluebirds, if they are near by, is to use an open feeder, such as a platform feeder or a little glass feeder that hangs off of a hook, or something around your home, like a small plastic container, a clear one would work best, since the bluebirds will be able to see the mealworms. 

1. Take your training feeder, such as the platform feeder or the plastic feeder you found around your house and place it at the same height as your enclosed mealworm feeder. Eventually the bluebirds will see there are mealworms inside your enclosed feeder thru the plexiglass or screen on the enclosed feeder, since they will be at eye height from the training feeder you have placed beside it.
2. Or you can just use your training feeder for a few days, until the bluebirds feel comfortable going to the same location.  Then switch your training feeder with your enclosed feeder.  The bluebirds might wonder what is going on. But they might be curious enough to fly around and see what you have replaced your training feeder with.  You may have to leave your training feeder still out and beside your enclosed feeder, until you see them going inside.  
3. Some people have luck just by placing food in the feeder and then whistling, as if they are talking to them.  Or use a bell or some calling noises.
4. If you have bluebirds living in a bluebird house.  You can place a feeder near their house, once they get use to the feeder, keep moving it away from the birdhouse, a little bit each day, until it is a safe distance away from the birdhouse.  This way, it will not bring added attention to the birdhouse, if you have predators. 

Trying one of these ways or a combination of them, should help bluebirds be attracted the the feeder you bought for them.

It does take time and patience to train a bluebird.  But once they find you are feeding them mealworms (their favorite food) they will be trying to train you to feed them whenever they get hungry.