A Songbird with a Unique Shade of Blue

If a flash of blue across the arid montane summer landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona catches your eye,  it may just be the spunky Mountain Bluebird. The first time I saw one of these blue songbirds  was on a crisp winter day after a fresh snow at my favorite natural area in the Front Range of Northern Colorado, where I am from. Compared to New Mexico and Arizona, where Mountain Bluebirds are a common, vibrant,  and year-round sight, they are rarer to see in Northern Colorado, where they mostly visit during breeding. So, I was ecstatic and blown away when I saw a male Mountain Bluebird perched on a narrow reed. 

Its trademarked sky-blue, full-body coloring, which is distinctly lighter than that of other bluebirds, was stunning. However, what I found really astounding was how calmly and elegantly the Mountain Bluebird perched on such a delicate piece of flora, with its tiny anisodactyl feet keeping it steady. A fun example of this is that in western Arizona, you can find them perching on the top of Joshua Trees. After the Mountain Bluebird I was watching darted away, I continued my walk. It was likely in search of berries that are important for its winter diet. However, in other seasons, you will see Mountain Bluebirds feed mostly on insects when they are more abundant.

When you see one Mountain Bluebird, there is a good chance you will see more, especially in winter, as they like to gather in large flocks for protection when food is harder to find. When Mountain Bluebirds are in a flock, it allows some to act as lookouts for predators, which can help others focus on finding food. Later during my walk, I spotted another one by picking up on the soft, warbling notes of its song. This time it was a female Mountain Bluebird on a thin twig! Females are mainly gray but can have magnificent blue tail feathers. The females can be hard to spot with their less flamboyant color, but that challenge, personally, makes them more exciting to see, and from the right angle you can still catch their brilliant blue. Watching a female will likely also lead to an interaction with her male mate, who may be nearby, gathering food to bring to her. 

After my amazing experience watching Mountain Bluebirds, I got hooked on watching small songbirds because of my astonishment at how they perch on impossibly tiny flora, their lovely songs, and pops of color. That is why I think the Mountain Bluebird is an excellent spark bird for any season in the Southwest, where they are common year-round, to get your child, friends, or family interested in birds and the places they call home.