Gardeners love bluebirds because they are voracious insect eaters, and can quickly rid a garden of pests. Their blue and red plumage also makes them a delightful sight among the flowers.

The eastern bluebird is a mostly omnivorous and insectivorious member in the genus Sialia of the thrush family. It is one of the few thrush genera in the Americas. Bluebirds are territorial, and build nests in cavities to protect their young (in a behavior similar to woodpeckers). Wild bluebird numbers had been in decline, due to the destruction of their habitat and competition with invasive species like house sparrows and starlings, but in recent years bluebird sightings have been on the rise. This upswing is the result of a movement of volunteers establishing and maintaining bluebird trails.

Bluebirds are attracted to platform bird feeders and feeders filled with mealworm grubs. Bluebirds are also fond of raisins soaked in water, and they eat berries, wild fruits, and seeds during the fall to store energy for their migrations. Additionally, bluebirds like to have perches and fence posts from which they can survey insects, and they love to bathe and play in heated backyard birdbaths during the winter.