Eastern Bluebird Sunbathing Antics

I was treated to some amusing bluebird behavior a few morning ago as I watched an adult male Eastern Bluebird and one of the fledglings engage in sunbathing rituals right in my backyard.

It started when the male flew down to a sunny patch of ground and struck a classic sunbathing pose – lying on his belly with wings spread and feathers fluffed up. One of the juvenile bluebirds I’ve been observing this spring seemed intrigued and landed right next to the male. It even went so far as to peck at the male with its beak after eating something.

The male wasn’t having any of that, quickly getting to his feet and relocating to a nearby tree branch. The juvenile followed suit, flying off to another perch as if to say “Hey, I was just curious!”

Later on, I spotted the fledgling trying its hand (or wing) at sunbathing in a different sunny spot close to the male’s favored sunbathing locale. Juveniles often mimic adult behaviors like this as they learn to master essential skills.

Sunbathing provides multiple benefits for bluebirds beyond just soaking up some warmth. The heat helps dislodge and eliminate pesky feather lice and other parasites. It also aids in drying and conditioning their feathers after baths and bad weather.

This peculiar but purposeful sunbathing posture, with feathers fluffed to expose the most surface area, allows the sun’s rays to penetrate and heat up the bird’s plumage. A little post-sunbathing preening helps distribute those vital oils that insulate and weatherproof their feathers.

I’ve written before about observing sunbathing behaviors in other backyard birds like American Robins and Blue Jays. You can read those previous posts here: A Young American Robin Sunbathing and Blue Jay Sunbathing

Have you spotted any bluebirds, or other birds, engaging in sunbathing rituals in your area? Let me know in the comments!