I don’t tend to think of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) as winter birds, so I was very happy to see a small flock of them this past Friday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The sky was covered with clouds and there was almost no sunshine, turning my background to almost pure white in many of my shots. This tended to make some of my images, especially the one of the bluebird perched on the uppermost branches of a bush, look almost like they were shot in a studio.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
They are so cute! Lovely images, Mike.
I love seeing these and other rotund little birds in winter. I think it’s because the European robin is a winter icon back home in Britain. I love the way the rusty brown plumage harmonizes with the background while the blue feathers really sing against all those neutral tones.
I checked out some photos of European robins and I can see the resemblance with the bluebirds. The blue of the females is a little drab, but that of the male really shines in the monochromatic backgrounds of the winter.
He has a determined look in that second photo 🙂
Stunning, Mike, especially the first one showing the beautiful blue plumage.
Thanks, Chris. The bluebirds were really skittish, so I planted myself in one place and eventually some of them came a bit closer. I was fortunate when one perched relatively in the open and within range and I was able to capture some of the bird’s beautiful details.
That middle shot is truly amazing. They are all beautiful.