Mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) shine their pretty blue feathers across much of the western United States, but they are very rare on the East Coast. Around New Year's Day, a mountain bluebird visited Heckscher State Park on Long Island, and New York birders made the pilgrimage to say hello. We visited on January 6, 2024.
Mountain bluebird, Heckscher State Park, Long Island, January 6, 2024
This bird has the plumage of an immature male or a female. These photos were taken from a pretty good distance on a somewhat cloudy day. The bird was very active, and we were able to watch the bluebird for quite some time. It would often take off when a pedestrian or car went by, but would soon return to a pole or treetop or to stand up in the grass. How or why the bird got so off-course I really don't know, but it was an honor to get to see and photograph our visitor.
The video below shows the mountain bluebird looking for insect snacks and perching on some of the poles the bird favored while we were watching. The music featured in the video, Frédéric Chopin's Mazurka in B flat major, B. 73, is performed by Edward Neeman.