What is The State New York's Official Bird?

A Symbol of Happiness: An Expert Guide to the Eastern Bluebird, New York's State Bird

The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) is a vibrant and beloved symbol of the Empire State. Officially designated as the state bird of New York in 1970, this beautiful member of the thrush family is celebrated for its striking plumage, melodious song, and its role as a welcome harbinger of spring. This guide, grounded in ornithological facts, provides an in-depth look at this fascinating and cherished bird.

Official Designation: A Long-Held Affection

While the Eastern Bluebird was officially recognized by the New York Legislature on May 18, 1970, its informal status as the state's favorite bird dates back much further. As early as 1928, the state's schoolchildren voted to name the bluebird their favorite in a poll conducted on Bird Day, showcasing a long-held affection that was finally codified into law decades later.

Identifying the Eastern Bluebird:

This small, migratory songbird is a stunning sight in open woodlands, farmlands, and orchards across the state.

• The Striking Male: The male Eastern Bluebird boasts a brilliant, vivid blue head, back, wings, and tail. This is contrasted by a warm, brick-red throat and chest and a clean white belly.
• The Elegant Female: The female is more subdued but equally beautiful, with a soft, grayish-blue coloring, a paler reddish-brown chest, and brighter blue accents on her wings and tail.
• The Song: Their song is a series of soft, warbling, and cheerful whistles, a sound that is one of the most pleasant in the North American soundscape.

A Conservation Success Story:

In the mid-20th century, the Eastern Bluebird population faced a severe decline due to habitat loss and competition from more aggressive, non-native birds like the House Sparrow and European Starling, which would take over their nesting cavities.

The bluebird's remarkable comeback is a major conservation success story, largely thanks to the efforts of citizen scientists and bird lovers who built and installed thousands of bluebird nesting boxes. These boxes, with specific dimensions and entrance hole sizes, provide a safe place for bluebirds to nest, protected from larger competitors.

Behavior, Diet, and Nesting:

• Diet: Eastern Bluebirds are primarily insectivorous in the spring and summer, feeding on insects, spiders, and worms. In the fall and winter, their diet shifts to include fruits and berries.
• Nesting: Bluebirds are cavity nesters. The male selects a territory and performs an elaborate courtship display, singing and fluttering his wings to attract a female. She then builds a neat, cup-shaped nest of grass and small twigs inside a nesting box or a natural tree cavity.
• Family Life: Bluebirds are generally monogamous during the breeding season and may raise two to three broods per year. After the young hatch, they remain in the nest for up to 20 days, with both parents actively feeding them.

How to Attract Bluebirds to Your New York Backyard:

• Install a Nesting Box: The number one way to help bluebirds is to put up a properly designed nesting box in an open, grassy area with a nearby perch.
• Provide Water: A shallow birdbath is a major attraction for bluebirds for drinking and bathing.
• Plant Native Berries: Planting native, fruit-bearing shrubs and trees like dogwood, sumac, and serviceberry can provide a crucial food source in the fall and winter.

A Shared Symbol:

The Eastern Bluebird's widespread appeal is evident in the fact that New York shares this state bird with Missouri. Its beauty and cheerful presence make it a beloved symbol across its range.

Sources:

• New York State Library (for official state symbol information)
• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (allaboutbirds.org)
• National Audubon Society
• The North American Bluebird Society
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
• Reputable ornithological field guides

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