Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Eastern Bluebird (Sialis sialis)

Eastern Bluebird [lateral view of adult female]. Photograph Credit: Stephen J. Stedman; Lakeland Drive, Putnam County, Tennessee; 20 November 2016.

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Abundance: Common at all seasons; recorded in all Regional counties (Map of UCR Distribution); the breeding population trend is stable, but this thrush, being only semi-hardy, is susceptible to considerable variation in its population number brought about by mortality caused by cold winter conditions, especially those involving extended snow cover during late winter and early spring  (see also Regional Bird-Monitoring Plan)

Status: Permanent Resident; photograph [lateral view of adult male] (Stan Hood; Aspen Dr., Putnam County, Tennessee; March 2006).

Regional High Count and FBC/FBB High Count: 573 (19 September 2009; Putnam County, Tennessee [FBC]; m. ob.); CBC/CBB High Count: 535 (21 December 2006; White County, Tennessee [CBC]; m. ob.); SBC/SBB High Count: 342 (10 May 2008; Putnam County, Tennessee [SBC]; m. ob.).

Breeding: Confirmed (Recent). This cavity-nesting thrush benefits considerably from erection of nest boxes designed specifically for its nesting requirements; next boxes are sometimes erected in sequence along "bluebird trails," and the breeding bluebirds (and other species) using the nest boxes are carefully monitored, but published results for the Region are apparently absent. Natural cavities constructed by Downy Woodpeckers and later reused by bluebirds appear to have once been the main source of nesting sites by this species.

Habitat: Semi-open habitats of considerable variety are used by bluebirds, both during the breeding season and during all other seasons.

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: Registered on 110 (of 125) monthly check-lists during 2003 and on 196 (of 206) check-lists during 2004, resulting in a YardWatch frequency classification of Common during each year; this YardWatch frequency classification is entirely consistent with the overall Regional abundance classification.

Foray Results: A summary of data from UCR Forays follows (to view a map displaying foray data for a county or a sub-Region for this species, click on the name of an underlined county or state below):

* Because some foray blocks fall into two or three counties, the total of blocks in the Kentucky or Tennessee portions of the Region is less than the sum of the blocks in the counties of each portion of the Region; similarly, because some blocks fall into both states, the total of blocks for the Region is less than the sum of the blocks in the two states.

Remarks: x

Check-lists of Birds for the Counties of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of each county of the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed by clicking on the links below. For each county, there are two check-lists: one list that shows the species that have been observed and where possible documented in the county within the larger list for the entire Region; and one list that includes only the species observed in the county with annotations for the date and observers for at least one sighting (the ultimate goal of the latter list will be to include annotations for the very first known Regional observation of each species in that county; this goal is probably one that will take many years to complete, if completion is even a possibility). To see if the species discussed in this species account has been observed in a county, click below or click on the link for the Map of UCR Distribution near the top of the page.

Check-lists of Birds for Some Public Access Birding Sites of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of some public access birding sites within the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed via the links below. To see if the species dealt with in this species account has been observed within any of these sites, click on the appropriate link below. See the pages for each county within the Gazetteer for links to additional smaller public access birding sites with check-lists in progress.

Literature Cited