Mountain Bluebird in St. Louis County
2012-11-13

'Casual' in Minnesota

Joe Hudick of Osceola WI found this Mountain Bluebird yesterday afternoon, 12 November, at the Park Point Recreation Area in Duluth, and it was still present this morning along the road between the main parking lot and Sky Harbor airport. Note the wash of buff on the breast, which is suggestive of female Eastern Bluebird, but the flanks appeared gray (rather than rusty-orange as on Eastern), and the paler "sky blue" color on the upperparts differed from the Eastern's deeper blue color. According to the Geographic field guide, "In fresh fall plumage [of Mountain Bluebird], female's throat and breast tinged with red-orange"; the Sibley field guide also illustrates this plumage, adding that some males "show a trace of rufous on throat and breast".

Kim R. Eckert, "digibin" image with 10x32 Leica Ultravid binoculars