Early in life, I was visited by the bluebird of anxiety

Quotation by Woody Allen

Mountain Bluebird: Have you seen this bird?

The Mountain Bluebird

The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is a medium-sized bird weighing about an ounce,

The Mountain Bluebird is migratory. Their range varies from Mexico in the winter to as far north as Alaska, throughout the western U.S. and Canada.

Identification Tips:
• Length: 6 inches
• Thin bill
• Most often seen in open habitats

Adult male:
• Bright blue plumage; brightest on upperparts
• Lacks any brown coloration

Female:
• Blue wings and tail-duller than male
• Remainder of plumage gray
• Eye ring

Juvenile:
• Blue wings and tail-duller than male
• White eye ring
• Spotted underparts

Similar species:
The Mountain Bluebird is most likely to be confused with other bluebirds. Male Mountain Bluebirds lack any reddish coloration on their underparts unlike Eastern and Western Bluebirds. Females are more difficult to separate. Eastern Bluebirds have a brownish throat and white belly while Mountain Bluebirds have gray throats and bellies.

These birds hover over the ground and fly down to catch insects, also flying from a perch to catch them. They mainly eat insects and berries. They may forage in flocks in winter, when they mainly eat grasshoppers.

Their breeding habitat is open country across western North America, including mountain areas, as far north as Alaska. They nest in pre-existing cavities or in nest boxes. In remote areas, these birds are less affected by competition for natural nesting locations than other bluebirds.

The Mountain Bluebird is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada.