The middle photo shows a fully hatched second nestling and three eggs remaining. A few hours later, the male is seen inside the box, possibly helping to remove the shell from the second egg. In most cases female will remain on the nest for the entire night and then leave sometime within the first hour after daybreak. The bottom photo reveals the beautiful colors typical of male Eastern Bluebirds. The male joins the incubating female in the nest box.
Females are the primary care givers in bluebird pairs.
It is possible that the visiting male is there to attempt to copulate with the incubating female. April 21 - The female is once again seen sitting on her five eggs. Once the last egg has been laid the female will incubate the eggs for 12-14 days. The length of incubation can sometimes be lengthened at times of prolonged cold weather. A beautiful shot of a female Eastern Bluebird incubating her five eggs.