Sialia sialis sialis

(Hardwicke, 1834)

Vernacular names
English : Eastern bluebird
French : Merlebleu de l’Est

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Turdidae
Notes : 6 other subspecies known

Identification
The species reaches 21 cm in length for a weight of 32 g. Male is bright blue with white chin, white belly and rusty-red breast. Female is duller with white throat patch and more extensive white belly. Small black bill, white eye-ring.

Range and habitat
The species occurs from south-east Canada (migratory population) to most of eastern half of USA, south to Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua. Lives in open woodlands, orchards, wooded savannas, up to 2700 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is common and its numbers might be increasing. Declines can happen because of bad weather conditions or lack of nesting sites.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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