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Also see Nest ID Matrix (contents) and Egg ID Matrix (color, spots, etc.)
To see other cavity nester bios/photos:
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

LEFT: Western Bluebird (WEBL) nest photo by Linda Violett. WEBL nests may be 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.

TOP: WEBL nest in WA, with a few feathers. BELOW: a different nest that appears to have been hastily constructed. Zimmerman photos. | ||
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![]() BELOW: The nest below is shallow, and the cup is lined with cellophane. Linda has also found straw wrappers (common), 8-track tape, shoestring, a large pink costume feather, flowers (Bougainvillea was “in” in 2007), plastic newspaper ties, polyester batting, leaves, cigarette filters, and plastic rings in WEBL nests. Violett photo. |
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![]() BELOW#1: Another WEBL nest in Bickleton, WA, without a single accoutrements. Zimmerman photo. |
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WEBL nestlings lined up in a row, with an unhatched egg. Notice feathers have not filled in on back yet. Age unknown. Zimmerman photo. | ||
WEBL nest in Western WA. Notice how close to the entrance hole the top is. May be a second nest on top of a previous nest. Photos of the young from this nest (age unknown but eyes starting to open) below. Zimmerman photos. | ||
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![]() The berry seeds/pits (type unknown) below the birds are found in many boxes in South Orange County. |
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![]() These nestlings were orphans that were fostered with another pair of bluebirds. Their story will be in the August 2007 California Bluebird Recovery Program newsletter. |
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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