What does the Western Bluebird song sound like?

Sialia mexicana

Song Common

Play the real Western Bluebird song, the "cheer, churr-lee", and learn what to listen for.

“cheer, churr-lee”

What the Western Bluebird song sounds like

A soft, low, warbling song consisting of several phrases that sound like "cheer cheerful-charmer" or a subdued whistle with slurred notes. It is quieter and less musical than an Eastern Bluebird's song, but both are fairly low volume. Males often sing from a high perch or during fluttering flight in early spring.

“cheer, churr-lee”

How to find the bird singing it

Open woodlands, woodland edges, and scrubby clearings in the West. They favor areas with at least some trees for nesting cavities but with open ground for foraging. Common in pine-oak woodlands, ponderosa pine forests, and along woodland edges of meadows. They also use farmlands, orchards, and even desert washes with scattered mesquites in winter.

Male Coloration: Deep purplish-blue on the head, back, and throat; rich reddish-brown on the chest and also extending onto the upper back between the wings in many individuals. The belly is gray. The blue throat and gray belly distinguish it from the Eastern Bluebird (which has orange throat and white belly).
Female Coloration: Female is much duller – she is gray-brown above with subtle bluish wings and tail, and a pale rusty wash on the breast. Her throat is gray (no blue or orange). She may still show a hint of the male's pattern but very subdued.
Bill and Eye: Thin, straight black bill typical of insect-eating thrushes. The eyes are dark. Often perches in an erect posture on wires or fence posts, scanning for insects.

When you'll hear it

Spring

Early spring (March) finds them already establishing nest sites. Males sing a soft, throaty warble and perform fluttering displays. They readily occupy nest boxes if provided well before breeding. Pairs begin laying eggs by April in most areas.

Summer

Breeding season at its peak. Chicks hatch after ~13–15 days of incubation by the female. Both parents (and occasionally helpers) feed the nestlings a steady diet of insects. Often two broods are raised per season. You may see fledglings from the first brood being fed while a second clutch is in the nest.

Fall

Family groups merge into flocks. Bluebirds switch to eating more fruits and seeds as insect populations wane. They often move to lower elevations or more southerly areas – those in mountains descend into valleys. Flocks of dozens or even hundreds can gather where food is abundant (like juniper berry crops).

Winter

In milder parts of the West, they remain all winter. They travel in loose flocks, frequently heard giving soft "cheer" or "chup" calls overhead. They roost in tree cavities or dense groves at night. Many frequent open woodlands, pastures, and even desert scrub with berries. On cold mornings, they often perch facing the sun to warm up.

Don’t confuse it with

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

Eastern Bluebird

Male Eastern has an orange throat and white belly, versus Western's blue throat and gray belly. Female Eastern is more buffy overall with a whitish belly, whereas female Western is grayer with a dull orange breast and gray belly.

Western Bluebird song FAQ

What does a Western Bluebird song sound like?

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

Eastern Bluebird: Male Eastern has an orange throat and white belly, versus Western's blue throat and gray belly. Female Eastern is more buffy overall with a whitish belly, whereas female Western is grayer with a dull orange breast and gray belly.; Their ranges meet in New Mexico/Arizona where they can be confused – voice helps (Western has a softer call, Eastern a sharper "chur-lee" and different song). Visually, the color of throat and belly is the key: Western = blue throat, Eastern = orange throat..

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

In spring, Western Bluebirds return early (they're short-distance or altitudinal migrants, often arriving in February/March). Males sing and display to establish territories – you might see them fluttering in front of nest cavities showing off their blue and orange to females. Through summer they breed, often having two broods. By fall, they gather in small flocks and feed on abundant berries, sometimes hundreds concentrating in juniper berry crops. Many move to lower elevations or to the southern parts of their range in winter, where flocks roam fields and open woods.

More Western Bluebird sounds

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