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Western Bluebird Nest, Eggs and Young

Cavity nester photos of nests eggs and young Also see:
  • Descriptions of cavity-nester nests and eggs and downloadable 2 page guide (PDF) to common nests found in CT
  • PHOTO ALBUM with pictures of cavity nesting birds, nests and eggs
  • TABLE showing relative sizes of eggs, and egg photos side by side
  • Mystery nests (have fun trying to guess)
  • Unusual nest sites Part 1 Part 2
  • Weird eggs  (e.g., dwarf, odd coloration)
  • Cavity Nester Nests, Eggs and Young Photos and Bios:

    WEBL nest.
     

    Western Bluebird (WEBL) nest photos all courtesy of Linda Violett. WEBL nests are more likely than Eastern Bluebird nests to contain trash and feathers, and thus may be confused with House Sparrow nests. The nest on the left has more feathers than usual.

    Nest Description: Collection of grasses, weed stems, and, sometimes, hair and feathers. Routinely add ribbons, strips of cellophane, thin bark and leaves to their nest, which may cause some to confuse it with a House Sparrow nest.

    Linda has also found straw wrappers (common), 8-track tape, shoestring, a large pink costume feather, flowers (Bougainvillea is "in" in 2007), plastic newspaper ties, polyester batting, leaves, cigarette filters, and plastic rings in WEBL nests.

    Eggs are pale blue, bluish-white, or white.

    WEBL nest.
     

    This nest contains a lot of coarse straw and bark, along with leaves, cellophane, and a ribbon.

    The nest below is shallow, and the cup is lined with cellophane.

    WEBL nest.
    WEBL nest.
     

    This nest contains party ribbons (from a nearby picnic/playground area), a feather, and a strip of paper with writing on it.

    For my photos of Linda Violett's Western Bluebirds, click here.

    WEBL nestlings.  Photo by Earl Garrison.   WEBL nestlings. Photo on left by Earl Garrison. Photo below by Beverly Gandall.
    Western Bluebird nestling. Photo by Earl Garrison.
    WEBL nestling.  Photo by Betty Lovejoy
     

    Newborn hatchlings look like Eastern Bluebird hatchlings.

    These are WEBL nestlings. Photo by Linda Violett. Notice the little one getting squashed in the middle.

    WEBL nestlings. Photo by Earl Garrison.  

    WEBL nestlings, about to fledge. Photo by Beverly Gandall.

    The berry seeds/pits (type unknown) below the birds are found in many boxes in South Orange County.

    WEBLs. Photo by Earl Garrison.  

    WEBL nestlings at fledging age, at 20 days. Photo by Earl Garrison. Notice the length of the tail on the bird to the left - looks much longer than an EABL fledgling's tail.

    These nestlings were orphans that were fostered with another pair of bleubirds. Their story will be in the August 2007 California Bluebird Recovery Program newsletter.

    Western Bluebird adults at birdbath. Photo by Earl Garrison.   Photo by Wendy Shields in Irvine, CA. She has a mealworm feeder that attracts as many as 10 WEBL's at a time.

      As the pressure of population increasingly regiments us and crowds us closer together, an association with the wild, winged freedom of the birds will fill an ever growing need in our lives.
      - Edwin Way Teale, introduction to Songbirds in Your Garden, 1953



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    May all your blues be birds!

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    Last updated April 28, 2008 . Design by Chimalis.

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