Photo by Chris Bosak
An Eastern Bluebird perches near a lake in Danbury, Conn., Feb. 2016.
Eastern Bluebirds, similar to American Robins, are thought of as mostly a spring and summer bird in New England. I love finding an active bluebird box in April or May and watching the parents go back and forth feeding the youngsters hidden inside the box.
But Eastern Bluebirds are also commonly found in New England during the winter. I love seeing them after a snowfall; how their bright blue and orange seem even brighter against the white backdrop. Bluebirds, in fact, may be seen by even more people in the winter than during the spring or summer. For the most part the only people who see bluebirds in the spring and summer are people who see them at their nest box sites. Obviously, that’s because bluebirds are busy fledging youngsters. So, unless you have bluebird boxes in your yard or neighborhood, or if you actively seek them out, you likely won’t see them.
In the winter, however, they can pretty much be anywhere as they are out searching for food. (See this related post.) I’ve seen Eastern Bluebirds at least half a dozen times this winter and it’s always been a random sighting. The habitats have been varied, but typically they favor woodland edges. That gives them the shelter of the woods and the food-seeking opportunities of the adjacent fields or shurblands.
I may have seen plenty of bluebirds this winter, but none of the sightings have presented a very good photo opportunity. Here’s the best I came up with — so far.
Photo by Chris Bosak
An Eastern Bluebird takes off from a perch near a mostly frozen lake in Danbury, Conn., Feb. 2016.
Birds of New England.com 
We have 11 Bluebirds this winter in Massachusetts. We feed meal worms and suet mix. How wonderful to see them on our back porch all lined up on the railing. They have survived well the brutal weather we have had for the past week.
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What a sight that must be. Thanks for writing!
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March 15th, 2;45 PM Thursday: (David ) Hey!!! I just saw my first Blue Bird ever, here in Carver Massachusetts.
I have a suit feeder on a Bo Peep Staff about 6′ tall, and a stick on window feeder with Black sunflower seed, outside my office window. First floor in a small 3 unit office Building.
I could not get my cell phone out quick enough, but he’ll be back. He looked larger then in the pictures on the website… about 5″ overall… awesome coloring.
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Hey: Its 3-15-2018: I just saw my FIRST Blue Bird… Ever.
Carver Massachusetts. I have a suit feeder on a 6′ tall Bo Peep Staff, and a Stick to the window feeder that is filled with Black Sunflower seeds. What a sight.. Great Colors, but mine was about 5 ~ 6″ in length… What great colors. I could not get my phone/camera out quick enough buy I’ll be watching. Take Care, David
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Thank you for sharing about these beautiful blue birds. I’ve lived in Massachusetts my whole life (almost 40 years!) and have never before seen one of these until this Winter. I was so in awe at it’s beauty, I had to search it up online out of curiosity.
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