About Sialia currucoides (Bechstein, 1798)
The mountain bluebird, scientifically named Sialia currucoides (Bechstein, 1798), has a length of 15.5–18 cm (6.1–7.1 in), a weight of 24–37 g (0.85–1.31 oz), and a wingspan of 28-36 cm (11.0-14.2 in). It shows sexual dimorphism in plumage color, though males and females are similar in size. Adult males have bright turquoise-blue plumage on their upper bodies, lighter blue plumage on their underbodies, and a white lower belly. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, with grey coloring on the breast, crown, throat, and back. When in fresh fall plumage, the female's throat and breast are brownish near the flanks, which contrasts against the white underparts of the tail. This species produces a thin 'few' call, and its song is a high, warbled 'chur chur'. The breeding habitat of the mountain bluebird is open country across western North America, including mountainous regions, extending as far north as Alaska. While mountain bluebirds can remain in some states year-round, their overall range is large: they typically migrate south to Mexico for the winter, and north to western Canada and even Alaska for the summer. Depending on the season, they can be very common in mountain environments such as grasslands or sagebrush landscapes, where trees and shrubs are widely spaced.
