The Angry Bluebird

by Ann Stanley
(Murray Kentucky)

I don't know if anyone has ever encountered this before with their bluebirds, but my husband and I witnessed something today that we have NEVER seen before! We have enjoyed the comings and goings of a bluebird couple that inhabited one of our backyard bird houses. In fact, they've been here now for about 4 - 5 weeks.

Well, today two other male bluebirds entered the backyard and settled near the bluebird house. At first glance, we thought they might be another couple that was interested in one of our houses. Suddenly, however, the two birds attacked the male bluebird very violently.

The female sat nearby observing the fight as the two birds flew and grappled in several places in our backyard. The third male seemed to fly away as soon as the other two began their violent fight.

My husband went outside and tried to separate the birds or scare them apart, to no avail. The two birds continued their fight just outside of his reach. The female continued to follow them around the yard as they fought.

We thought they had all disappeared when we began eating lunch. Suddenly, our pair appeared together back at their bird house just as if nothing had happened. At least, we hope it is our original pair, it is difficult to tell.

We have many unanswered questions. Is this the original male? Is this characteristic of bluebirds? Would another male inhabit the house of another pair?

The whole affair has left us quite unsettled. We were naive to think that birds didn't share some of the more savage instincts of other animals.