NPS Photo / Rachel Ames Description: Males are sky-blue overall with darker wings and tail, lighter underparts and white under the tail. Females are mostly gray-brown with tinges of pale blue on the wings and tail. Migratory Status: Spring and summer residents of Rocky Mountain National Park. Habitat: Nest in tree cavities and prefer mountain grasslands and sage shrublands adjacent to open coniferous forests, aspen forests and the alpine tundra to 10,000 and occasionally 13,000 feet. Diet: Eat mostly insects including beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars and spiders. They forage by perching on shrubs or tall grasses and often hover before catching prey on the ground or in mid-air.
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Last updated: July 5, 2019