[All photographs copyright, Gary Nunn 2013] – Amid the excitement of finding a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker yesterday morning in Point Loma I forgot about this interesting bluebird that I sighted at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. I found it in the far southwest section of the cemetery and thought it looked a bit strange all alone. I immediately noticed the plain monotone color of the bird overall and its upright stance with a kind of “stretched out” appearance. I approached from the front and snapped a few photographs. I hoped to skirt around and observe the back of the bird but it flew off towards the point, into the sun, and was gone! I suspected it might be a Mountain Bluebird and a view from the back would have been beneficial because this species typically shows off characteristic large black markings on the primary and tertial feathers forming black bars up the wings.

But I think the photographs from the front show pretty readily this is in fact a female Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides. It has white undertail coverts and lower belly, unlike the darker gray color shown by a female Western Bluebird. To my eye the bill has a slightly longer and thinner look to it than Western Bluebird and is completely dark colored with no sign of any pale marking near the base. Importantly it shows pale whitish feathering on the forehead, forming a little band over the bill, which gives it a sort of annoyed spectacled look when staring at my camera! Although hard to make out, viewed from the side angle, the greater and median coverts on the wing also have generous white edges. I would probably have passed over this Mountain Bluebird among the many Western Bluebirds that are usually around the cemetery. But the Westerns have dwindled in numbers here as we have gotten into the winter months, it is tough finding even a couple in the whole cemetery. It often pays to check out lone birds that seem a bit out of context! This is the first Mountain Bluebird I have encountered in Point Loma.

Mountain Bluebird – adult female Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, San Diego County 11 Dec 2013

Mountain Bluebird – adult female Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, San Diego County 11 Dec 2013

Mountain Bluebird – adult female Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, San Diego County 11 Dec 2013

Mountain Bluebird – adult female Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, San Diego County 11 Dec 2013