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Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

Eastern Bluebirds aren't an uncommon sight in eastern South Dakota, although I've generally had a hard time getting close enough for photographs.  Western Bluebirds aren't found in South Dakota (except for a few misguided souls), and I'd never really gotten good looks at them until May of 2008, when we took a family vacation to Utah.  We were staying at a B&B on the edge of Zion National Park, and one evening when I went out onto our patio, I received a wonderful "gift".  A male Western Bluebird flew into a small tree right by the patio, and started singing away.  I slowly backed away to go inside and get my camera, and unlike 98% of birds in that situation (that's what it seems like!), he actually stayed and allowed me to return and grab some photos.  The clean background and the curve of the branch, plus the great pose by the bluebird make this one of my all-time favorites.

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