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The State Bird of Idaho is the Mountain Bluebird
Idaho is home to a wide variety of birds, but one stands out as its official state bird: the Mountain Bluebird. The species was first designated by former Governor Robert E. Smylie in 1931 and has been a cherished symbol of Idaho ever since.
About the Mountain Bluebird
The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) belongs to the thrush family, which includes other popular birds such as robins and American redstarts. It earns its name from its bright blue plumage with white patches on both wings and back. Males have an especially striking coloration that serves as a signal to prospective mates while they search for nesting sites or compete with rival males during breeding season. Females are slightly duller in color but can still be identified by their gray-white belly and throat feathers contrasted against a deep slate-blue crown, wings, and tail feathers.
Mountain bluebirds prefer open habitats like fields or meadows where there are few trees competing for nesting space – exactly what you might find in some parts of rural Idaho! They’re usually found at higher elevations during spring migration before settling down into more lowland areas come summertime; they’re also known to frequent deserts, grasslands, pastures, parks, cities — wherever food sources like insects are plentiful throughout the year!
Habitat & Behavior
In addition to being social creatures that enjoy living among other mountain bluebirds outside breeding season for improved protection against predators (like hawks), these birds have unique behaviors when it comes time to make nests — most notably constructions built inside tree cavities or old woodpecker holes! Nests consist mostly of plant material like twigs arranged into cup shapes lined with softer materials like mosses or animal fur/feathers collected from nearby sources as well as mud used seal up any gaps against rainwater entering them while they’re out searching for food each day!
Furthermore these avians tend towards monogamous relationships meaning once two individuals form attachments there’s little chance either will split apart save extreme circumstances such death due too predation etcetera…they’ve also been observed performing elaborate courtship rituals including singing duets between partners which scientists believe helps strengthen bonds even further ensuring long term survival rates among offspring produced together over time through successive generations 🙂
