Very rarely will chickadees invade active bluebird nests, peck the eggs and take the nest over. However, this extremely rare behavior has been reported by bluebirders. All cavity nesting birds can potentially behave like this, but there are ways to protect active nests.
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Katharine is an experienced science writer and wildlife enthusiast. Armed with a biology degree and journalism experience, she's been crafting compelling scientific narratives for over a decade. Katharine's knack for investigative journalism and developmental editing shined through her award-winning wildlife coverage.
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Are House Sparrows and Starlings Predators of Bluebirds? What Ecology and Science Says
House sparrows and European starlings are often misclassified as predators of bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds. However, they are not predators by definition. Instead, they are invasive competitive species.
Most Chickadees Will Accept A Wren Guard: Tips, How-To and Pictures
While chickadees are more skittish compared to bluebirds, most chickadees will accept a wren guard. However, every chickadee is different, and not all tolerate wren guards. Observation is key when testing a new wren guard, and there are important steps to help chickadees tolerate them better.
6 Ways Bluebirds Find Food In The Wild: Incredible Secrets Behind Bluebird Survival
While many bluebird hosts feed bluebirds live mealworms, bluebirds find food in the wild using their keen eyesight that helps them spot prey while perched several yards above as well as using 6 different foraging techniques to capture prey.
Complete Guide to What Bluebirds Eat -Seasonality & Feeding Best-Practices
Bluebirds eat insects, larva, other arthropods, and berries. Their diet changes with seasonality and temperature. Nestlings eat the same food as their parents. Planting certain plants and learning feeding best-practices can help your bluebirds thrive.
Can You Have Multiple Bluebird Houses In Your Yard?
Successfully having multiple bluebird houses in your yard will depend on whether your yard is large enough to support multiple pairs of bluebirds or whether a different species of bird will be using the other box. Bluebirds are very territorial. Managing multiple pairs requires a lot of space.
9 Chickadee Predators and How to Protect Them
Chickadee predators include raccoons, cats, squirrels, rat snakes, birds of prey, chipmunks, squirrels and more. Additionally, larger birds such as blue jays and crows can be a threat to fledgling chickadees.
How to Tell a Bluebird Nest from a House Sparrow Nest – Complete Guide
Three primary ways to tell a bluebird nest from a house sparrow nest is shape, material and height. Bluebirds have clean cups of pine or straw that sits below the entry hole. House sparrows fill a box with no defined cup or consistent material. But in many cases you will still need other clues.
Essential Bluebird House Supplies for New Bluebird Landlords
The most important bluebird supplies include a proper nest box, pole and baffle; intermediate supplies include sparrow protection; and expert supplies include nest cameras and specialty nest boxes. Choosing the right accessories is critical for bird survival.
What is a Bluebird House Predator Guard and what types are there?
Bluebird house predator guards are tools that help prevent predators from entering a nest box. Three common predator guards are baffles, Noel guards, and hole extenders. Additionally, bluebird landlords may …