Eastern bluebird

The male eastern bluebird in the spring light is hard to forget, bright blue above and warm rusty orange on the chest. It sits upright on a post or a wire, watching the grass below, and then drops to catch an insect. Bluebirds are in the thrush family, and they have a soft, warbling song.

Bluebirds nest in tree cavities, and their numbers have recovered thanks to people putting up and maintaining nest boxes. They return to the southern part of Manitoba in March and April, sometimes while there is still snow on the ground. In winter they eat berries, which allows some to stay farther north than you might expect.

Here is one of my favourite frames of this bird.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.