Missouri State Bird

Missouri designated the Eastern Bluebird in 1927 because of its bright color, approachable character, and role in the open farm-and-forest edge country many Missourians know well. It was a practical symbolic choice: familiar to residents, visible across much of the state, and easy to connect with local schools, gardens, farms, parks, or conservation culture.

Eastern Bluebirds combine bright blue upperparts with a rusty throat and breast, plus a gentle thrush shape and clean, upright posture. In Missouri, it looks especially at home across pasture country, glades, orchard edges, and open parkland.

They favor open country with scattered perches, drop to the ground for insects, and readily use nest boxes when habitat stays lightly managed. It uses pastures, orchards, open woodland edges, and parkland with cavities or boxes well, which helps explain why the bird feels familiar well beyond protected areas.

In Missouri, start with Prairie State Park, Katy Trail State Park, and Mark Twain National Forest. Watch fence lines, orchard edges, and mowed openings where bluebirds sit up, scan, and then drop to the ground after prey. Spring and early summer are strongest because territorial pairs stay visible around nest sites. These kinds of places match the bird's preferred mix of pastures, orchards, open woodland edges, and parkland with cavities or boxes.

The Eastern Bluebird is currently listed as LC. Bluebird recovery has been helped by nest-box programs, though competition from invasive cavity nesters and the loss of open edge habitat remain concerns.