Bluebirds, including the Eastern, Western, and Mountain Bluebirds, are recognized for their vibrant plumage and striking blue hues. Their vocalizations are often the first way people identify them. Understanding the variety and nuances of their songs and calls deepens appreciation for these birds.
The Bluebird’s Distinctive Song and Calls
Bluebird vocalizations encompass both melodious songs and various calls. The Eastern Bluebird, for instance, typically sings a soft, low-pitched, warbling song. This song is often described using phrases like “chur-lee,” “tru-ly,” or a query-like “tu-a-wee,” consisting of one to three short notes per phrase. These songs can be categorized as either loud or soft, with loud songs being more commonly heard by humans and serving long-distance communication. Soft songs, which are more complex and delivered in a whispering manner, are generally exchanged at close range between birds.
Beyond their primary songs, bluebirds employ a range of calls for different situations. Eastern Bluebirds use a soft, conversational “chup” or “chur” for contact. When sensing danger, they may emit sharper alarm calls, such as a rapid “chit-chit-chit.” Females can produce a very soft, low “chip” sound, especially when a male is courting. Bluebirds, particularly Eastern and Mountain Bluebirds, may produce a bill-snapping sound when stressed or confronting predators near their nests. Western Bluebirds also exhibit bill clapping in aggressive encounters.
Western Bluebirds offer a softer, more hesitant song, often a string of various call notes. Their common call is a soft, quavering “kew,” which they might repeat several times. They also make a harsher, double-noted “che-check” when changing positions and a chattering call when disturbed.
Mountain Bluebirds possess a simpler song repertoire, often singing a loud, chirruping song at dawn, similar to an American Robin. Throughout the day, they may engage in a soft, repetitious warbling. Their calls include a soft, nasal “tew” or “peu,” and a high-pitched “tink” for alarm.
The Purpose Behind Their Vocalizations
Bluebirds use their diverse vocalizations for communication within their species. The male bluebird’s song attracts a mate and establishes his territory. These songs are particularly frequent and elaborate during the breeding season, from March through July, when males advertise their presence and quality to prospective females. Loud songs communicate over greater distances, signaling territory boundaries or presence.
Softer songs, often complex and whispered, are typically used for close-range communication between a male and his mate, especially during the egg-laying period. These intimate vocalizations help coordinate activities and reinforce pair bonds. Contact calls, such as the Eastern Bluebird’s “tu-a-wee,” are used year-round to maintain cohesion within a flock or family group. These calls allow individuals to keep track of each other’s whereabouts, even signaling parents returning to the nest with food for their young.
Alarm calls, like the sharp “chit-chit-chit” or the Mountain Bluebird’s “tink,” warn other bluebirds about potential dangers, such as approaching predators. The bill snapping or clapping sounds are a physical display deterring intruders or predators from nesting sites. Each vocalization plays a specific role in the bluebird’s social interactions and survival strategies.
Distinguishing Bluebird Sounds
Identifying bluebird sounds requires attention to their unique qualities. Bluebirds are thrushes, and while some vocalizations may share characteristics with other thrushes, distinct differences exist. For example, the Mountain Bluebird’s dawn song can resemble that of an American Robin, but its overall repertoire includes specific calls that are unique.
Bluebird songs are soft, gentle, and often melancholic, distinguishing them from louder or more varied calls of many other species. The Eastern Bluebird’s low-pitched, warbling song, often described as “chur-lee” or “tu-a-wee,” has a distinctive slurred phrasing. This contrasts with birds that might have more rapid, disjointed, or higher-pitched vocalizations. Western Bluebirds offer a soft, hesitant song with a quavering “kew” call, while Mountain Bluebirds have nasal “tew” or “peu” notes.
Their vocalizations typically fall within the 2 to 5 kilohertz (kHz) range, which can sometimes overlap with human-generated noise. The relatively low amplitude of bluebird songs compared to many other songbirds can make them subtle. Learning to discern the specific pitch, cadence, and overall gentle quality of bluebird songs and calls is helpful for accurate identification.