A bluebird is a small songbird with bright blue feathers on its back and head. In North America, the Eastern Bluebird is the most common species, beloved for its cheerful chirping and the flash of brilliant blue you might see when one lands on a fence post or flies across a field. Bluebirds eat insects and berries, and they nest in holes in trees or in special birdhouses that people build for them.

The bluebird appears throughout American culture as a symbol of happiness and hope. You might hear someone say they're feeling “bluebird happy” on a perfect spring day, or that they're looking for their own “bluebird of happiness.” Bluebirds really do seem to bring good cheer when they appear.

In the early 1900s, bluebird populations dropped dramatically because other birds took over their nesting spots and pesticides harmed them. But conservation efforts, including thousands of people building special bluebird houses, helped bring them back. Today, spotting a bluebird reminds us both of nature's beauty and how people working together can help threatened species recover.