A Bluebirds Nesting Timetable
Nest Building - 7 to 10 days grass, rootlets or pine needles or all three items
Egg Laying - One egg a day, mid-morning 5 to 7 days generally 4 to 5 eggs laid.
Incubation - 14 to 17 days depends on weather conditions
Hatch day as follows;
Day 1- Bright coral pink skin, eyes sealed downy feathers on head and body.
Day 2 to 4 - Wings, head, and spine look bluish due to developing feathers emerging under skin.
Day 5 to 7 – Feathers sheaths begin to emerge on wings, eyes still closed.
Day 7 – First feathers burst from tips of sheaths, eyes open as slits, brooding by female stops (cold weather conditions brooding may continue.)
Day 8 to 11 – Eyes fully open, feathers continue to burst out from sheaths.
Day 11 to 12 – Feathers on wings and tail reveal cobalt blue on males, duller gray-blue on females, female eastern bluebirds show white edging on outer tail feathers.
Day 13 – Cut-off date for nest box checks. Fully feathered young become increasingly active and may fledge prematurely if box is opened.
Day 14 to 22 – Fledglings first flight, Empty nest flattened and young remain in cover while parents bring food, being cared for by the parents outside the nest box they are now termed as Fledglings.
Day 28 – Fledglings fly strongly following parents who feed them for 2 to 3 weeks.
Day 30 – Fledglings feed unassisted, now termed as juvenile birds.
After maturing and molting into their true colors they become an adult bird.
Bluebirds can have up to 3 nesting’s a year. Even 4 have been reported.
Note : Female bluebird may build a completed nest, but delay egg laying for weeks, due to cold weather no active insects or she decided to build elsewhere because of house sparrows intrusion. I can fairly say we do not know why at times and bluebirds can be unpredictable.
Harry Schmeider
448 Portman Rd
Butler, Pa. 16002
harryschmeider@gmail.com
Personal Website ambassadorforthebluebirds.net
Nest Building - 7 to 10 days grass, rootlets or pine needles or all three items
Egg Laying - One egg a day, mid-morning 5 to 7 days generally 4 to 5 eggs laid.
Incubation - 14 to 17 days depends on weather conditions
Hatch day as follows;
Day 1- Bright coral pink skin, eyes sealed downy feathers on head and body.
Day 2 to 4 - Wings, head, and spine look bluish due to developing feathers emerging under skin.
Day 5 to 7 – Feathers sheaths begin to emerge on wings, eyes still closed.
Day 7 – First feathers burst from tips of sheaths, eyes open as slits, brooding by female stops (cold weather conditions brooding may continue.)
Day 8 to 11 – Eyes fully open, feathers continue to burst out from sheaths.
Day 11 to 12 – Feathers on wings and tail reveal cobalt blue on males, duller gray-blue on females, female eastern bluebirds show white edging on outer tail feathers.
Day 13 – Cut-off date for nest box checks. Fully feathered young become increasingly active and may fledge prematurely if box is opened.
Day 14 to 22 – Fledglings first flight, Empty nest flattened and young remain in cover while parents bring food, being cared for by the parents outside the nest box they are now termed as Fledglings.
Day 28 – Fledglings fly strongly following parents who feed them for 2 to 3 weeks.
Day 30 – Fledglings feed unassisted, now termed as juvenile birds.
After maturing and molting into their true colors they become an adult bird.
Bluebirds can have up to 3 nesting’s a year. Even 4 have been reported.
Note : Female bluebird may build a completed nest, but delay egg laying for weeks, due to cold weather no active insects or she decided to build elsewhere because of house sparrows intrusion. I can fairly say we do not know why at times and bluebirds can be unpredictable.
Harry Schmeider
448 Portman Rd
Butler, Pa. 16002
harryschmeider@gmail.com
Personal Website ambassadorforthebluebirds.net
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