Sialia sialis
Open country with scattered trees and nest boxes in the East and parts of the Southwest. Small perching track, not useful alone.
What does a eastern bluebird look like?
Blue above, orange on the throat and breast, white belly.
What do eastern bluebird tracks look like?
No reliable ground identification. The blue back and orange breast, often on a wire, decide it.
- Small perching track, not useful alone
- Male is bright blue above with an orange breast
- Female is grayer with a pale orange wash
- Uses a nest box
- Whitewash at the box
What does eastern bluebird poop look like?
Whitewash on a nest box. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Open country with scattered trees and nest boxes in the East and parts of the Southwest. Typical places: field, yard. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not approach a nest
- If a bird is injured, call a local wildlife rehabilitator
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- American robin identification
- Tree swallow identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
What does an eastern bluebird look like?
Blue back, orange breast, white belly. Smaller and more upright than a robin.
How to tell a eastern bluebird from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- American robin. A small perching-bird print. Gray-brown back, orange breast, yellow bill.
- Tree swallow. No ground trail. Shiny blue-green back and a clean white belly.
Eastern bluebird field marks
- Small perching track, not useful alone
- Male is bright blue above with an orange breast
- Female is grayer with a pale orange wash
- Uses a nest box
Where the sign shows up
Open country with scattered trees and nest boxes in the East and parts of the Southwest. Typical places: field, yard. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
No reliable ground identification. The blue back and orange breast, often on a wire, decide it. Whitewash on a nest box.
Common questions
What does an eastern bluebird look like?
Blue back, orange breast, white belly. Smaller and more upright than a robin.