Star of the West

Eminent German softbill specialist THOMAS WENDT outlines his breeding techniques for a beautiful species of bluebird

- Thomas Wendt

THREE species are included in the genus Sialia (bluebirds): the eastern bluebird (S. sialis), western bluebird (S.mexicana) and mountain bluebird (S. currucoides). My first bluebirds were eastern bluebirds that I saw at the beginning of the 1990s with my breeding friend Willi Wählen in Heinsberg.

At that time, bluebirds were quite rare in captivity and a lot of clutches were infertile so that it was difficult to acquire offspring. At some point, however, more and more breeding successes began and one heard again and again of successful offspring of the eastern and western bluebird pairs.

Before long a small captive population had been established. By contrast, mountain bluebirds are not at all established, or only very small numbers are in breeders’ hands.

Many years later, in the autumn of 2013, the first bluebirds arrived in my aviaries. I was able to get western bluebirds by buying and exchanging with three other breeders and putting together matching pairs. Right away we managed to “multiply” the species between us. In this article I would like to introduce the western bluebird and report on my own experiences with it.

Description

Western bluebirds are about 18cm (7in) in length. Sexual dimorphism is clearly visible. In the male, the head, throat and tail are blue. The upperparts are bright blue somewhat interspersed with brownish. The underside is reddish-brown, brightest on the chest.