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Abundant in most of the west, a few Western
Bluebirds will pass through the Imperial Valley along the riparian edges
of both the Alamo and New Rivers, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
The Mountain Bluebird (photo shown on the left) has a brighter blue color than its cousin, the Western Bluebird, and lacks the reddish-brown plumage of its more commonly seen cousin. Huge flocks spend the winter months in plowed fields. Difficult to see - unless you know what to look for! Rising above the plowed earth, they "flutter" like a hummingbird before diving back to the ground for an insect they spotted from the air. |
If you are interested in learning more about this bird online - I recommend you start with the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.htmlThey present photographs, songs, identification tips, maps, and life history information for North American birds - including the Mountain Bluebird and the Western Bluebird
OTHER OUTSIDE LINKS FOR THIS BIRD:
North American Bluebird Society - Non-profit organization dedicated to conservation of the three species of Bluebirds in North America. Contains photographs and links to other Bluebird Web sites.
The following "WAV" format sound file is copyrighted by Doug Von Gausig of Sedona, Arizona, as part of "The Sounds of Nature" Web site at www.naturesongs.com:
- http://www.naturesongs.com/webl1.wav - Western Bluebirds' call
- http://www.naturesongs.com/mobl1.wav - Mountain Bluebirds' call
This site is maintained by:
Eldon R. Caldwell
Imperial Valley College
Email: eldonc@imperial.cc.ca.us