I was sitting on my deck one afternoon watching the Eastern Bluebirds make their feeding runs to the birdhouse. One of the adults started hovering near the bottom corner of the box. I had no idea what it was doing at first.
When I got my camera on it, I realized the bird was removing ants.
Eastern Bluebird Ant Removal at the Birdhouse
I’ve watched Eastern Bluebirds at birdhouses for years. I’ve seen them feed nestlings, remove fecal sacs, and chase off House Sparrows. I had never seen one hover at the lower corner of the box and pick something off the wood.
Once I reviewed the shots, it was clear. The bird was going after ants that had found their way onto the birdhouse. The behavior was deliberate. The bluebird hovered, checked the surface, and plucked. It wasn’t a single quick pass.
I don’t know exactly how many ants were removed. The whole session didn’t last long. The bird’s attention to that corner was clear.
This pair has been working the birdhouse hard all season. You can read more about how this nesting run got started in my post on Bluebirds Nesting in Yard With Two Birdhouses Active.
Watching Eastern Bluebird Ant Removal Up Close
The box had young inside, and both parents were making regular food deliveries throughout the day. My best guess is that ants were working their way onto the birdhouse and the adult decided to deal with it.
Bluebirds put a lot of energy into raising a brood. If ants were accumulating near the entrance or on the wood, that’s worth addressing. Still, hovering burns energy too. The session was short, and the bird moved on quickly. I doubt this happens for long stretches.
I’ve never seen them do it before, and I’m not sure how common it actually is. It was one of those small behaviors that’s easy to miss if you’re not watching closely.
Photographing Eastern Bluebird Ant Removal From the Deck
I was hand-holding the camera when this started. I kept the shutter speed high to freeze the wings and let ISO climb to compensate.
Camera settings:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark 2
- Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
- Focal length: 800 mm
- Aperture: f/10
- Shutter speed: 1/2000 second
- ISO: 2000
- Exposure compensation: 0
- Support: Hand-held
- Date and time: May 27, 2026, at 01:24 P.M.
The light was decent for a mid-afternoon session. The soft green background is the yard behind the birdhouse, and the separation worked well at 800mm. I kept the birdhouse in the upper right corner of the frame so the bird had space as the subject.
The RF 200-800mm handles this kind of close deck work well. From my spot by the deck rail, I can cover the entire birdhouse without disturbing anything.
I wasn’t expecting to document anything unusual that afternoon. I was just watching the regular feeding routine. That’s usually when something like this shows up. Keep the camera close during nesting season and you’ll eventually see something you’ve never seen before.
Have you ever watched a bluebird do something like this at your nest box? Let me know in the comments.