Photography of Birds – Set # 272 | H.J. Ruiz

Some taxonomists placed the Blue Grosbeak in its own monotypic genus Guiraca but in 2001 a molecular phylogenetic study of mitochondrial DNA sequences found that the blue grosbeak, in spite of being physically larger, nested within the Passerina and was most closely related to the lazuli bunting. The species is therefore now placed with the North American buntings in Passerina, a genus that was introduced by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1816.

Eastern Bluebird

Both parents cooperate in raising the young, which they feed a diet consisting almost entirely of insects. Some young stay around the nest to help raise another brood. Fledglings are grayish in color, with speckled breasts. The blue color becomes much more prominent and the speckles on their breasts disappear as they mature. Bluebirds may begin breeding the summer after they are hatched.

10 thoughts on “Photography of Birds – Set # 272”

anisioluiz2008 on April 22, 2021 at 10:04 am said:

Reblogged this on THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON….

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Jet Eliot on April 22, 2021 at 5:17 pm said:

I enjoyed this celebration of two of America’s blue birds, HJ. Happy Earth Day to you, my friend, who celebrates every day as Earth Day.

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- H.J. for avian101 on April 22, 2021 at 5:40 pm said:
  
  Shouldn’t we all? Thank you, my friend. 🙂
  
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sv-anui.com on April 22, 2021 at 6:24 pm said:

Gorgeous HJ.

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- H.J. for avian101 on April 22, 2021 at 8:24 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much, Chris. 🙂
  
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Martha Johnston on April 23, 2021 at 9:55 am said:

I enjoy your photos and the information you share, which gives us a deeper understanding of the birds we enjoy seeing.

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- H.J. for avian101 on April 23, 2021 at 3:37 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much, Martha. 🙂
  
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Birder's Journey on April 25, 2021 at 4:02 pm said:

Wonderful post about these beautifully blue birds! Isn’t it amazing to think that the summer after hatching a bluebird can become a parent? Come to think of it, I wonder how common that actually is in the bird world.

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- H.J. for avian101 on April 25, 2021 at 4:13 pm said:
  
  Actually, stays with the parents to help them with the next brood ( the parent’s). Thank you Carol. 🙂
  
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  - Birder's Journey on April 25, 2021 at 4:50 pm said:
    
    Fascinating!