Tricky Identifications: Eastern vs. Western Bluebird

Welcome back to Tricky Identifications, a journal series that highlights a few similar species and the differences between them. The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) and Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) are two similar North American species in the genus Sialia (bluebirds).

The Western and Eastern Bluebirds are often identifiable by range. However, where their range overlaps the two can be difficult to distinguish from each other. Both species have blue upperparts, pale flanks, pale bellies, and rufous breasts. The females of both species are grayer than the males. However, on Eastern bluebirds, the rufous extends onto the throat and onto the neck. Western bluebirds often have rufous scapulars (uppermost part of the wing), a rufous nape, and some rufous on the back.

Eastern Bluebird: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12942-Sialia-sialis/browse_photos

Eastern Bluebird Range: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Bluebird/maps-range

Western Bluebird: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12937-Sialia-mexicana/browse_photos?photo_license=any

Western Bluebird Range: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Bluebird/maps-range

Publicado el diciembre 30, 2022 10:52 TARDE por salmonadder