Western Bluebird

The western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) is a small North American thrush. == Taxonomy == The western bluebird was formally described by the English naturalist William Swainson in 1832 and given the binomial name Sialia mexicana. Six subspecies are recognized: S. m. occidentalis Townsend, JK, 1837 – southwest Canada to north Baja California (northwest Mexico) S. m. bairdi Ridgway, 1894 – interior west USA to Sonora and Chihuahua (northwest Mexico) S. m. jacoti Phillips, AR, 1991 – south central USA and northeast Mexico S. m. amabilis Moore, RT, 1939 – northcentral Mexico S. m. nelsoni Phillips, AR, 1991 – central Mexico S. m. mexicana Swainson, 1832 – south central Mexico == Description == The western bluebird is a small stocky bird with a length of 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in). The adult male is bright blue on top and on the throat with an orange breast and sides, a brownish patch on back, and a gray belly and undertail coverts. The adult female has a duller blue body, wings, and tail, a gray throat, a dull orange breast, and a gray belly and undertail coverts. Both sexes have a thin straight bill with a fairly short tail. Immature…