At first thought you could well be forgiven for thinking that the dove is the symbol of happiness, but you would be wrong. The dove is the international symbol of peace. The international bird symbol of happiness is in fact the Bluebird.
The Bluebird is a member of the thrush family and related to the American Robin. There are three different species of Bluebirds in the world - The Eastern Bluebird is generally found in the eastern half of North America to the Rocky Mountains. The Mountain Bluebird is found from the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains west to the Pacific coast of the North America. The Western Bluebird is typically found west of the Rocky Mountains. All three species are blue on their back. The Eastern has a red breast and white belly. The Mountain is slightly larger than the Eastern and does not have the red breast. The Western is similar to the Eastern with the red of the breast spreading around to the back. Bluebirds are not to be mistaken with Bluejays, Indigo Buntings, or any other bird species that is blue
The natural habitat of the Bluebird is open fields, prairies, and meadows with few trees or shrubs. The natural nest location is an old woodpecker hole or rotted (hollow) limb on a tree. The artificial habitat that man has created that is usable by the Bluebird includes broome fields, horse and cattle pastures, cemeteries, golf courses etc. This artificial habitat should be one that does not include the use of pesticides, as they can be harmful to the insect eating birds. Man has taken up the Bluebird cause and has created nest boxes for the Bluebirds on both the natural and artificial habitat areas. Woodland habitat is a less favourable choice to bluebirds, but there are a number of other species that would make use of a Bluebird nest box in such a habitat. These would include House Wrens, Chickadees, Great-Crested Flycatcher, Nuthatches and Titmice.
The Bluebird is a member of the thrush family and related to the American Robin. There are three different species of Bluebirds in the world - The Eastern Bluebird is generally found in the eastern half of North America to the Rocky Mountains. The Mountain Bluebird is found from the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains west to the Pacific coast of the North America. The Western Bluebird is typically found west of the Rocky Mountains. All three species are blue on their back. The Eastern has a red breast and white belly. The Mountain is slightly larger than the Eastern and does not have the red breast. The Western is similar to the Eastern with the red of the breast spreading around to the back. Bluebirds are not to be mistaken with Bluejays, Indigo Buntings, or any other bird species that is blue
The natural habitat of the Bluebird is open fields, prairies, and meadows with few trees or shrubs. The natural nest location is an old woodpecker hole or rotted (hollow) limb on a tree. The artificial habitat that man has created that is usable by the Bluebird includes broome fields, horse and cattle pastures, cemeteries, golf courses etc. This artificial habitat should be one that does not include the use of pesticides, as they can be harmful to the insect eating birds. Man has taken up the Bluebird cause and has created nest boxes for the Bluebirds on both the natural and artificial habitat areas. Woodland habitat is a less favourable choice to bluebirds, but there are a number of other species that would make use of a Bluebird nest box in such a habitat. These would include House Wrens, Chickadees, Great-Crested Flycatcher, Nuthatches and Titmice.
