A Songbird with a Unique Shade of Blue

If a flash of blue throughout the arid montane summer season landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona catches your eye,  it could simply be the spunky Mountain Bluebird. The primary time I noticed certainly one of these blue songbirds  was on a crisp winter day after a contemporary snow at my favourite pure space within the Entrance Vary of Northern Colorado, the place I’m from. In comparison with New Mexico and Arizona, the place Mountain Bluebirds are a typical, vibrant,  and year-round sight, they’re rarer to see in Northern Colorado, the place they principally go to throughout breeding. So, I used to be ecstatic and blown away once I noticed a male Mountain Bluebird perched on a slim reed. 

Its trademarked sky-blue, full-body coloring, which is distinctly lighter than that of different bluebirds, was beautiful. Nonetheless, what I discovered actually astounding was how calmly and elegantly the Mountain Bluebird perched on such a fragile piece of flora, with its tiny anisodactyl toes maintaining it regular. A enjoyable instance of that is that in western Arizona, you could find them perching on the highest of Joshua Trees. After the Mountain Bluebird I used to be watching darted away, I continued my stroll. It was seemingly seeking berries which are vital for its winter weight-reduction plan. Nonetheless, in different seasons, you will note Mountain Bluebirds feed totally on bugs when they’re extra considerable.

While you see one Mountain Bluebird, there’s a good likelihood you will note extra, especially in winter, as they like to collect in massive flocks for cover when meals is tougher to search out. When Mountain Bluebirds are in a flock, it permits some to behave as lookouts for predators, which will help others concentrate on discovering meals. Later throughout my stroll, I noticed one other one by choosing up on the delicate, warbling notes of its music. This time it was a feminine Mountain Bluebird on a skinny twig! Females are primarily grey however can have magnificent blue tail feathers. The females could be onerous to identify with their much less flamboyant colour, however that problem, personally, makes them extra thrilling to see, and from the suitable angle you may nonetheless catch their good blue. Watching a feminine will seemingly additionally result in an interplay together with her male mate, who could also be close by, gathering meals to carry to her. 

After my wonderful expertise watching Mountain Bluebirds, I received hooked on watching small songbirds due to my astonishment at how they perch on impossibly tiny flora, their beautiful songs, and pops of colour. That’s the reason I believe the Mountain Bluebird is a wonderful spark hen for any season within the Southwest, the place they’re widespread year-round, to get your baby, mates, or household curious about birds and the locations they name dwelling.