{"id":127600,"date":"2024-04-17T03:00:23","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T08:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=127600"},"modified":"2024-04-16T17:57:09","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T22:57:09","slug":"male-eastern-bluebird-close-up-photos-with-food-for-his-chicks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/04\/17\/male-eastern-bluebird-close-up-photos-with-food-for-his-chicks\/","title":{"rendered":"Male Eastern Bluebird Close Up Photos With Food For His Chicks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, I am sharing portraits of a male Eastern Bluebird that were taken in my friend Steve Creek’s yard<\/span><\/a>. The male bluebird was bringing food in to his chicks.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Eastern Bluebird with a cricket for his chicks \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I was focused on the bird but also on the food he was offering to his young in the nest box. The variety of food was interesting and wonderful to see up close.<\/p>\n

Eastern Bluebirds were one of my mother’s favorite birds. Last year when I was here in Arkansas I didn’t get as many photos of them as I would have liked and didn’t get to really share them with her. She would have loved these photos.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Eastern Bluebird with a caterpillar for his chicks \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/640, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Caterpillars seem to be what the adult Eastern Bluebirds here bring to their chicks most frequently at this time of the year. I’m sure they are high in protein for the fast growing chicks inside the nest box.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Eastern Bluebird with a spider for his chicks \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Spiders are the second most brought in food to this blue nest box right now. Today I shared the male bluebird, soon I hope to share photos of the female.<\/p>\n

I should mention that I have a long lens with 1.4x teleconverter and these bluebirds are not impeded from feeding their young at all. The bluebirds are quite used to mine and Steve’s presence on his deck where we photograph them from. They feed their young constantly all day long and sometimes they return to feed them again in less than five minutes. If either of us thought the birds were uncomfortable with our presence we would leave the bluebirds alone.<\/p>\n

I hope to add many photos of this bluebird species to my gallery soon!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Eastern Bluebird photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, I am sharing portraits of a male Eastern Bluebird that were taken in my friend Steve Creek’s yard. The male bluebird was bringing food in to his chicks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":127591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13950,27,14094,13951],"tags":[4004,5933,4880,5729,4068,4142,5934,14096,1130,13931,4062,4046,4106,14095,3901,165,3844,14905,8018,13966],"class_list":["post-127600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arkansas","category-avian","category-eastern-bluebirds","category-sebastian-county","tag-adult","tag-bluebird","tag-bluebirds","tag-caterpillar","tag-chicks","tag-close-up","tag-cricket","tag-eastern-bluebird","tag-food","tag-garden","tag-male","tag-portrait","tag-prey","tag-sialia-sialis","tag-spider","tag-spring","tag-thrush","tag-thrushs","tag-urban","tag-yard"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/eastern-bluebird-male-with-prey-mia-mcpherson-2614.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-xc4","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":151051,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/07\/29\/eastern-bluebird-nest-box-news-chicks-are-ready-to-fledge\/","url_meta":{"origin":127600,"position":0},"title":"Eastern Bluebird Nest Box News – Chicks Are Ready To Fledge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Eastern Bluebird chicks in one of my friend Steve Creek's nest boxes are getting ready to fledge. It won't be long before they start exploring the world.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Bluebird chick getting ready to fledge, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/eastern-bluebird-chick-nestbox-mia-mcpherson-3811.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/eastern-bluebird-chick-nestbox-mia-mcpherson-3811.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/eastern-bluebird-chick-nestbox-mia-mcpherson-3811.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/eastern-bluebird-chick-nestbox-mia-mcpherson-3811.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":129969,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/06\/30\/young-eastern-bluebird-second-brood\/","url_meta":{"origin":127600,"position":1},"title":"Young Eastern Bluebird – Second Brood","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"This young Eastern Bluebird is from the second brood in my friend Steve Creek's nest box in Arkansas this year. I took these bluebird photos two days ago.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Eastern Bluebird foraging on its own, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/eastern-bluebird-young-mia-mcpherson-6635.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/eastern-bluebird-young-mia-mcpherson-6635.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/eastern-bluebird-young-mia-mcpherson-6635.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/eastern-bluebird-young-mia-mcpherson-6635.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":128267,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/05\/05\/levitating-eastern-bluebird-male\/","url_meta":{"origin":127600,"position":2},"title":"Levitating Eastern Bluebird Male","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Some of my images simply make me laugh out loud. This male Eastern Bluebird photo did that because it looks like the bird is levitating over Steve Creek's yard.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Levitating Eastern Bluebird male in Arkansas, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-bluebird-male-levitating-mia-mcpherson-5125.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-bluebird-male-levitating-mia-mcpherson-5125.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-bluebird-male-levitating-mia-mcpherson-5125.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-bluebird-male-levitating-mia-mcpherson-5125.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":114177,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/07\/06\/young-eastern-bluebird-in-arkansas\/","url_meta":{"origin":127600,"position":3},"title":"Young Eastern Bluebird In Arkansas","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 6, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Just a quick post this morning highlighting a young Eastern Bluebird photographed while foraging on the ground in my friend Steve Creek's yard in Arkansas.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Eastern Bluebird foraging on the ground, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/eastern-bluebird-young-mia-mcpherson-1570.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/eastern-bluebird-young-mia-mcpherson-1570.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/eastern-bluebird-young-mia-mcpherson-1570.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/eastern-bluebird-young-mia-mcpherson-1570.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":128650,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/05\/17\/male-eastern-bluebird-teaching-his-young\/","url_meta":{"origin":127600,"position":4},"title":"Male Eastern Bluebird Teaching His Young","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Before I left Arkansas, I had the privilege of seeing and photographing this male Eastern Bluebird teaching his young fledglings where to find food.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Excited male Eastern Bluebird, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-bluebird-fluttering-wings-mia-mcpherson-6657.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-bluebird-fluttering-wings-mia-mcpherson-6657.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-bluebird-fluttering-wings-mia-mcpherson-6657.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-bluebird-fluttering-wings-mia-mcpherson-6657.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":152110,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/08\/10\/messy-male-eastern-bluebird-post-nesting-season\/","url_meta":{"origin":127600,"position":5},"title":"Messy Male Eastern Bluebird – Post Nesting Season","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"It is post nesting season, and the male Eastern Bluebird is looking a little messy from all the activity. He is still beautiful, but his feathers are worn.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Post nesting season male Eastern Bluebird, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/eastern-bluebird-ragged-mia-mcpherson-5997.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/eastern-bluebird-ragged-mia-mcpherson-5997.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/eastern-bluebird-ragged-mia-mcpherson-5997.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/eastern-bluebird-ragged-mia-mcpherson-5997.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127600"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127600\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}