What does the Mountain Bluebird song sound like?

Sialia currucoides

Song Fairly common

Play the real Mountain Bluebird song, the "warble-warble... chit! chit!", and learn what to listen for.

“warble-warble... chit! chit!”

What the Mountain Bluebird song sounds like

Full, lively warbles share the clip with crisp chit notes, giving the track both soft song and sharp punctuation.

“warble-warble... chit! chit!”

Birders often file this one under Warbles with chit calls.

How to find the bird singing it

Breeds in open areas of western North America, including mountain meadows, high elevation grasslands, sagebrush flats, and prairie edges. Prefers areas with scattered trees or nest boxes for nesting cavities (often old woodpecker holes in aspen or pine). In winter, frequents open plains, grasslands, and desert scrub, often at lower elevations where berries and seeds are available.

Male plumage: Male is bright sky-blue overall; female is gray-brown with bluish wings and tail
Size and shape: Slightly larger than other bluebirds (about 7 inches long) with a slender build
Habitat preference: Often in high, open terrain; perches in the open on fence posts, tops of shrubs, or wires

When you'll hear it

Spring

Males in brilliant sky-blue plumage arrive on breeding grounds. Vigorous courtship displays, including males flying above their territories singing and swooping down in wide circles.

Summer

Pairs actively nest and raise young. Fledged juveniles appear (brownish with blue tinge on wings) by mid-summer. Family groups begin forming small feeding flocks by late summer.

Fall

Males retain blue plumage but may look slightly duller. Birds begin moving to lower elevations. Mixed-age flocks form and feed heavily on insects and berries before migration.

Winter

Found in open country at lower elevations or more southern latitudes. Forms loose flocks, often along fence lines. Both sexes maintain the same plumage as fall, without significant change.

Don’t confuse it with

Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird males have a bright orange throat and chest with a blue back, unlike the all-blue Mountain Bluebird.

Western Bluebird

Western Bluebird males have a blue head and wings but an orange-brown chest and sides; they are not uniformly blue.

Mountain Bluebird song FAQ

What does a Mountain Bluebird song sound like?

Full, lively warbles share the clip with crisp chit notes, giving the track both soft song and sharp punctuation. Birders write it as "warble-warble... chit! chit!".

How do I tell a Mountain Bluebird from a Eastern Bluebird by ear?

Eastern Bluebird: Eastern Bluebird males have a bright orange throat and chest with a blue back, unlike the all-blue Mountain Bluebird.; Eastern Bluebirds look shorter and stockier; their range is mostly farther east, but the two species overlap locally and may even hybridize..

When is the best time to hear the Mountain Bluebird song?

By early spring, males arrive on breeding grounds and stake out nest cavities, singing and performing fluttering displays to attract females. Pairs raise typically two broods during the long summer if conditions allow, using natural tree cavities or nest boxes. Come late summer, families often join into small flocks feeding on abundant late-summer insects. In fall, they migrate or wander to lower elevations, often forming flocks that feed on berry-laden shrubs. During winter, Mountain Bluebirds gather in loose flocks on open plains, feeding on berries and any available insects on warm days; they can often be seen along roadsides or fence lines scanning for food.

More Mountain Bluebird sounds

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