Nevada State Bird

Mountain Bluebird

(Sialia currucoides)

Adopted on April 4, 1967.

During the 1967 session (April 12th) of the legislature, Clark County Assemblyman Stan Irwin introduced a bill to designate the Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides, as the Nevada state bird. The bill passed both houses and was signed by the governor on April 4th, 1967.
NRS 235.060

Description of the Nevada State Bird

The Mountain Bluebird is most likely to be confused with other bluebirds. Male Mountain Bluebirds lack any reddish coloration on their underparts unlike Eastern and Western Bluebirds. Females are more difficult to separate. Eastern Bluebirds have a brownish throat and white belly while Mountain Bluebirds have gray throats and bellies. Western Bluebirds are browner on the breast than Mountain Bluebirds and have thicker bills. Male Mountain Bluebirds might be confused with other all blue birds like Indigo Buntings and Blue Grosbeaks but these birds have much thicker, conical bills.

The mountain bluebird is six to seven inches in length. It has a small, pointed black bill and black legs and feet. The male is a deep sky blue above and a paler blue below with a white stomach. The female is a duller blue-gray on her wings with a gray throat, back and crown.

Identification

• Length: 6 inches
• Thin bill
• Most often seen in open habitats

Adult male

• Bright blue plumage; brightest on upperparts
• Lacks any brown coloration

Female:

• Blue wings and tail-duller than male
• Remainder of plumage gray
• Eye ring

Juvenile

• Blue wings and tail-duller than male
• White eye ring
• Spotted underparts

The Mountain Bluebird lives in the Nevada high country and destroys many harmful insects. It is a member of the thrush family and its song is a clear, short warble like the caroling of a robin. The male is azure blue with a white belly, while the female is brown with a bluish rump, tail, and wings.

Statute

 Nevada Statutes, Title 19, Chapter 235, Section 235.060.

TITLE 19—MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS RELATED TO GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
CHAPTER 235-STATE EMBLEMS; GIFTS AND ENDOWMENTS, STATE SEAL AND MOTTO.
SECTION 235.060.

NRS 235.060 State bird. The bird known as the Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is hereby designated as the official state bird of the State of Nevada.
(Added to NRS by 1967, 702)
 

Taxonomic Hierarchy of the Mountain Bluebird