Western Bluebird Nest, Eggs and Young

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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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.