State symbols reflect a region’s unique natural heritage, formally recognizing species connected to its environment and history. Idaho is defined by extensive mountain ranges and open western spaces. Therefore, the selection of its avian emblem focused on a bird that embodies the spirit of its high-altitude terrain.
Identifying Idaho’s State Bird
The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is a small migratory songbird belonging to the thrush family. It is celebrated for its striking coloration and is often recognized as “the bluest of the bluebirds.” The male displays brilliant turquoise-blue plumage across its back, wings, and head, often fading to a lighter blue underneath.
The female displays a more subdued palette. She exhibits a duller blue on her wings and tail, contrasting with a gray breast, throat, and back. Measuring approximately six to seven inches in length, this bird is relatively slender and long-winged compared to other bluebirds.
Habitat, Song, and Migration
In Idaho, the Mountain Bluebird thrives in open country, typically inhabiting high-altitude meadows, sagebrush steppe, and open woodlands, sometimes up to 11,000 feet. They are secondary cavity nesters, using existing holes in trees or readily utilizing man-made nest boxes for breeding. Their diet is primarily insectivorous during warmer months, consisting of grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders.
Their foraging behavior is distinct, often involving hovering low over open fields before dropping quickly to capture prey. During the winter, when insects are scarce, their diet shifts to include small fruits and berries, such as juniper and elderberries. The bluebird’s vocalizations include a soft, thin ‘few’ call and a delicate, warbled high-pitched song.
The Mountain Bluebird arrives in Idaho as early as late February or early March to establish breeding territories. They raise their young throughout the spring and summer before gathering in large flocks. Fall migration begins relatively late, with the birds typically departing for warmer winter grounds in the southwestern United States and Mexico between late September and October.
The Legislative History of Designation
The official status of the Mountain Bluebird was established in 1931 by the state legislature. The selection process was notably driven by the state’s schoolchildren, who participated in a vote to choose a representative species. Their preference for the Mountain Bluebird over other candidates, such as the Western Tanager, highlighted the bird’s widespread recognition and presence across the state’s terrain.
This popular choice was formally recognized, solidifying the bird’s place as a civic symbol. The designation is codified in the state’s legal framework under Idaho Code ยง 67-4501, which officially declares the Mountain Bluebird as the state bird. The vibrant, high-flying thrush represents the natural beauty and mountainous character of Idaho.