Blue Bird building a nest (pic) (to live in, cost, pine)

[tompope]

I had a blue canary in the outlet by the light switch (who watched over me) make a little birdhouse in my soul one year. Man, that was something.

[poppydog]

There are several other blue colored birds in NC, but the bluebird and the bluejay are the most common. The female bluebird has more muted coloring than the male. There's the indigo bunting which can be a really brilliant turquoise blue. http://blog.nwf.org/2012/05/backyard...the-week-blue/ . The Blue Grosbeak is also very blue in the male.

There's also the painted bunting which I have never seen in the wild, but would love to! They have blue heads.

linnysol, we had a flying squirrel live in our bluebird house for a few days a couple of years ago until we accidentally scared it off. Cutest thing ever!!

We have a barred owl who lately likes to perch on a pine tree in the backyard.

[Charlotteborn]

Poppydog, I have seen a number of painted buntings at my parents beach house in North Carolina. They are something to see! I think they are actualy more colorful than their pictures! Beautiful!!!

I haven't seen as many bluebirds this year as compared to the last few years. Hope it is still early and I will see more soon here in Charlotte!

[CHTransplant]

Originally Posted by poppydog

There's also the painted bunting which I have never seen in the wild, but would love to! They have blue heads.

I see these frequently in the Charleston area.

[PDD]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

Cool. I wish we could convince a bird to move into one of the bluebird boxes we put up.

We just put up a couple of houses this past week. While none have taken up residence yet, we have had a few lookers, some Blue birds and a few Wrens. They seem to poke their heads in and some even go inside to have a look around. We do live near a golf course so I know the neighborhood is suitable. My wife suggested maybe we need to install granite counter tops to entice those picky lookers to take up residence.

[ragdolls4me]

I would love to have any of those blue birds visiting--indigo or painted bunting, grosbeak---all so pretty, but I don't believe any of those are cavity nesters.

[TheBigKahunaNC]

I've had a bluebird house for nearly 10 years now, and every spring I see bluebirds checking it out, and then move on. They've never nested in it, but wrens have. I guess they don't like it, or the location, direction, etc. I've done all the research, but never seem to meet all of the criteria. I continue to see bluebirds all summer, they just won't use our box.

[pitroad]

The male blue-bird has a much brighter blue color than the female but both are beautiful birds


male blue bird


female bluebird

[lamishra]

After much googling I think the ones that have taken over my box are the white breasted Nuthatch.

[poppydog]

If you see them upside down they are probably nuthatches. They like to go down a tree or a cylindrical bird feeder head down. They're little guys between the size of a chickadee and a tufted titmouse.