Description: Western bluebirds are 18 cm (7 in.) long. Upperparts and throat of males deep purple-blue; breast, sides, and flanks chestnut; belly and undertail coverts grayish. Females duller, brownish-gray above, breast and flanks tinged with chestnut brown, throat pale gray. Often darts into air from high perch to catch insects in flight or flutters from low perch. Nesting season from April to May; clutch size 3 - 8 eggs (common 4 - 6 eggs); incubation and fledging time unknown.
Diet: Mostly insects, ants, spiders, earthworms, snails, and mistletoe berries.
Habitat: In open woodlands and farmlands, in desert areas found in mesquite-mistletoe associations. Nests in natural cavity of trees and posts, in abandoned nests from woodpeckers, and also in nest boxes. Commonly observed in lower elevations during the winter, but probably breeds at higher elevations in summer.
Range: Known from Canada to Baja California. While not widely distributed, this species is a year-round resident in suitable habitat in Clark County, Nevada.