Eastern Bluebird

The Eastern Bluebird is a breathtaking flash of vivid blue and warm russet that feels almost too colourful to be real. Once in serious decline due to habitat loss and competition from invasive starlings and House Sparrows, bluebirds have made a remarkable comeback thanks to dedicated nest box programs across eastern North America. They're cavity nesters that hunt insects from low perches in open, grassy areas — think meadow edges, golf courses, and rural fence lines. In winter they shift to fruit and berries, gathering in loose flocks that move through the landscape searching for food. Attracting a nesting pair to your property with the right nest box is one of the most rewarding experiences in backyard birding.

Eastern Bluebirds are primarily insectivores that also enjoy fruit — they're not seed eaters. Mealworms are their ultimate feeder food, but dried fruit, raisins, and insect-based suet are excellent alternatives. In winter when live insects vanish, Bird Grub suet with black soldier fly larvae is the closest match to their natural diet you can offer.

Bluebirds prefer open habitats with short grass and scattered trees. A platform feeder or specialized mealworm feeder in an open area is ideal. They won't visit tube feeders or hoppers in dense vegetation. Consider a bluebird-specific feeder with an entrance hole sized to exclude larger birds. Pair it with a nest box on a nearby post to create a complete bluebird habitat.

Bluebirds need open habitat with short grass, scattered trees, and cavity nesting sites. A nest box mounted 1.5 metres high on a post in an open field or lawn edge is the gold standard — use a box with a 3.8cm (1½-inch) entrance hole and a predator guard on the post. Face the entrance away from prevailing winds. Keeping grass mowed short near the nest box helps them spot ground insects. Avoid pesticides in your lawn, as bluebirds eat enormous quantities of insects during nesting season.