THE ESSENCE OF THE MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD | Solemn looking male mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides) hunts for ground insects from his perch in a forest clearing. This species has two insect hunting strategies, depending on habitat: the first, typical of small forest openings, is to watch from a perch and dive down, the second, commonly found in large fields or meadows, is to hover and flycatch. The dark yellow background on the photo is the slope of pine trees killed by the bark beetle, lighted by the setting sun.