What is a blue bird with orange belly and long beak?

The blue bird with an orange belly and long beak being described is likely the Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana). The Western Bluebird is a small thrush found in western North America. Let’s explore some key details about this bird’s identification, range, habitat, diet, and other interesting facts.

Identification

Several key features can help identify the Western Bluebird:

• The male has a vivid deep blue head, back, wings, and tail.
• The throat and chest are reddish-orange or rust colored.
• The belly is whitish.
• The female is grayish-brown on top with some blue in the wings and tail.
• The female also has an orange throat and breast.
• These bluebirds have a long, slender bill that is dark gray or black.

The vibrant blue and orange coloration of the male Western Bluebird makes it stand out. The blue and rusty orange hues are a striking combination. Females are a more subdued gray-brown above and lighter orange below. In flight, the broad, rounded wings alternating between blue and orange are a helpful identification clue.

Range

The Western Bluebird lives year-round in the western United States and western Canada. Their breeding range extends from southeastern Alaska through British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and western Texas.

These bluebirds winter as far south as central Mexico. They are found west of the Rocky Mountains, inhabiting open country across the west. In winter, they sometimes wander eastward across the Great Plains.

Habitat

Western Bluebirds occupy a variety of open and semi-open habitats. Their preferred nesting areas include:

• Ponderosa pine forests
• Aspen groves
• Burnt-over forests
• Open woodlands
• Orchards
• Large parks and cemeteries
• Golf courses
• Rural pastures with scattered trees
• Mountain meadows

They require cavities in trees, snags, stumps, or nest boxes for nesting and roosting. Access to open ground for feeding on insects is also essential. In winter, they inhabit similar open country but also use brushy thickets, chaparral, and desert washes.

Diet

Western Bluebirds are omnivores, feeding on both insects and berries. Their diet consists of:

• Grasshoppers
• Crickets
• Beetles
• Caterpillars
• Spiders
• Ants
• Berries
• Fruits

They hunt for insects and other invertebrates on the ground or catch them in flight. Berries and fruits become especially important in their diet during fall and winter. They enjoy elderberries, currants, blackberries, wild cherries, juniper berries, hackberries, and mistletoe berries. Western Bluebirds often perch on a low branch or fence wire and swoop down to grab prey.

Nesting

Western Bluebirds start breeding in spring, with pairs forming as early as March. They choose a nesting cavity in a tree hollow, old woodpecker hole, crevice, or nest box. The female builds the nest out of grasses, pine needles, stems, and feathers, shaping it into a cup. She lays 4-8 pale blue eggs and incubates them for 14 days while the male brings her food.

The nestlings hatch blind and helpless. Both parents feed the young a diet of insects and berries regurgitated into their mouths. After about 21 days, the young leave the nest. Western Bluebirds produce one to two broods per season. Parents may continue feeding the fledglings for several weeks as they teach them to forage.

Migration

Western Bluebirds do not migrate long distances like some other bluebirds. Their movement patterns typically involve shorter elevational migrations up and down mountain slopes or latitudes. In summer, they breed at higher mountain elevations across the west. When winter arrives, they shift to lower elevations, foothills, valleys, and plains.

Some individuals remain year-round in their breeding range. But many migrate south into the southern Rockies, Southwest deserts, southern California, and the Pacific Northwest. Some reach as far as central Mexico. The availability of food influences their winter movements.

Interesting Facts

• Western Bluebirds produce a series of mellow, warbling calls described as “chur-lee” and musical whistles.
• They are secondary cavity nesters, relying on existing cavities rather than excavating their own.
• They compete for nest sites with other cavity nesters like Tree Swallows, House Wrens, and European Starlings.
• Clutch sizes are larger in northern parts of their range.
• Western Bluebirds face nest competition from invasive House Sparrows and European Starlings.
• They are the state bird of Nevada and New Mexico.
• Young bluebirds may return to their parents’ nest for warmth on cold nights.

Conclusion

In summary, the blue bird with the orange belly and long beak is the Western Bluebird. Some key points about this species include:

• Males have deep blue upperparts and rusty orange throat/breast.
• Females are grayish-brown above with some blue and orange below.
• Found year-round in western North America.
• Nests in cavities in open woodlands and forest edges.
• Diet consists of insects and berries.
• Does not migrate long distances, with seasonal elevational shifts.

The Western Bluebird’s vibrant colors, melodious songs, and insect-eating habits make them a popular and beneficial songbird. Providing nest boxes can help attract them and offer critical nesting sites in their western range.

This table summarizes key identification features, habitat, food sources, and breeding biology of the Western Bluebird.

Similar Species

The Western Bluebird overlaps in range with two other bluebird species which can make identification tricky. Differences include:

• Eastern Bluebird: Males have deep royal blue upperparts. Females are grayer overall with pale blue wings and tail. Found east of the Rocky Mountains.
• Mountain Bluebird: Males are sky blue above, females are gray with hints of blue. White undertail coverts. Found in open country including alpine areas.

Familiarizing yourself with the subtle plumage and habitat differences helps distinguish these look-alike bluebird species that occupy separate parts of North America.

Attracting Western Bluebirds

Here are some tips for attracting Western Bluebirds to your yard:

• Put up nest boxes specifically designed for bluebirds on poles or fence posts.
• Face the entrance hole southeast or east to avoid prevailing rains and winds.
• Keep nest boxes 50-100 feet apart to minimize competition.
• Clean out old nesting materials in fall after young have fledged.
• Offer berries and fruits via specialized feeders or native plantings.
• Provide a water source like a birdbath, mister, or fountain.
• Reduce pesticide use allowing natural insect populations to thrive.

By offering suitable nest sites and supporting their food sources, you can have better luck attracting these lovely songbirds to your backyard.

Key Threats

Some major threats facing Western Bluebirds include:

• Habitat loss: Logging, urbanization, and conversion of land for agriculture removes vital breeding areas.
• Invasive species: House Sparrows and European Starlings compete aggressively for nest cavities.
• Pesticides: Chemical use reduces insect food sources.
• Climate change: May affect range and migration patterns.
• Nest parasites: Blowfly larvae and mites sometimes infest nests.

Providing nest boxes in appropriate habitat can help offset cavity competition. Pesticide use should be minimized and native plants kept to supply berry crops. Ongoing research and monitoring is needed to understand long-term impacts of a changing climate on Western Bluebirds.

With their bright plumage and cheery songs, Western Bluebirds are a delight to observe in the western United States. This medium-sized thrush fills an important niche in its ecosystems. Watch for these blue-and-orange beauties perching on power lines or swooping down to capture insects. With thoughtful conservation measures, these western songbirds can continue thriving.