The Western Bluebird moves out of the Higher
elevations in the winter. Some move into the southwestern desert
and northern central valley areas in winter.
Nesting
habitats used by the Western Bluebird.
The
Western Bluebird is a secondary cavity nester. That is, it uses a
nest that was excavated by another bird in a previous season.
This is usually an old woodpecker cavity. However, they will also
use a bird house. The Western bluebird like the Eastern Bluebird
is forced out of many nesting areas by the European Starling. The
European starling is a very aggressive secondary cavity nester.
It will even push baby birds of other species out of their nest
and take the nest for themselves.
Diet
of the Western Bluebird
The Western Bluebird eats insects,
earthworms,
snails, Poison oak berries, and other small berries and fruits.
In our garden the Western Bluebirds eat Elderberries,
Mahonia
nevinii, Black Chokecherry,
Western
Chokecherry,
Southern California Grape, Redberry
and Toyon.
The Bluebirds tell one and another, sometimes 20-30 birds are in one
bush at a time.
Planting bushes with berries also helps
attract the Western Bluebird to your garden. Their favorite plant
in our garden is Mahonia
nevinii. This is a prickly shrub that grows up to about 5
ft tall. It has yellowish berries that turn red as they ripen. It
is evergreen and quite attractive.
How
to attract the Western Bluebird to your garden
The
Western Bluebird often will occupy an area because of its
availability of nest sites. Building a nest
box in your
garden will greatly enhance your chances of attracting these
birds. If you build your nest box with a smaller entrance hole,
the European starlings will not take them.
Habitat/Plant
communities used by the Western Bluebird
The
Western Bluebird prefers open woodlands with water available.
They use oak woodlands as well as coniferous forests and riparian
woodlands.
Riparian
Central
oak woodland
Northern
Oak woodland
Southern
oak Woodland
Range
of the Western Bluebird
The
Western Bluebird is found in most of California except in the
deserts and the south central valley in summer.
The Western Bluebird also enjoys using the
bird
bath. They will drink as well as bath in it.
Learn
more about California's flora from our front page.
Return
to Bird page
Check
out the butterflies
