Eastern Bluebird

This is a small body feather from a thrush characterized by its vibrant rufous-orange tip and downy gray base. The Eastern Bluebird is a medium-sized songbird with a sky-blue back and a warm reddish-orange chest. Males are bright blue, while females are more grayish-blue but still retain the orange breast.

Bicolored; the basal half is a smoky charcoal gray leading into a soft white, while the distal half is a warm rusty-orange (rufous). No iridescence.

Transition from plumulaceous (downy) at the base for insulation to pennaceous (structured) at the distal tip for protection; barbs are relatively loose.

Extremely soft and silky; the downy base is fluffy while the orange tip has a slightly firmer, matte finish.

Distinctive orange distal tip combined with a gray/white downy base; small size and delicate thrush-like barb density.

Open woodlands, farmlands, orchards, and suburban gardens with scattered trees and short grass for foraging.

Year-round resident across the Eastern United States, Mexico, and Central America; northern populations migrate south from Canada and the northern US.

Insectivore and frugivore; they help control insect populations and disperse seeds of native berry-producing plants.

Western Bluebird feathers are very similar but often show more saturated blue rather than orange on certain body parts; American Robin feathers are much larger and usually a darker brick-red.

Eastern Bluebirds are cavity nesters that rely heavily on human-provided nest boxes. They can spot small insects in tall grass from over 60 feet away.

Good condition; the barbs are mostly intact though the plumulaceous section shows some natural disarray consistent with a molted feather.