Beautiful bird! I've never had one at my feeder, but I'm not in a great location. Lately, lots of Palm Warblers, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, a pair of Phoebes, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Dove (mostly White-Winged). I still have a resident Red-Shouldered Hawk patrolling the area, but he's now been joined by a Cooper's Hawk. The song birds better keep looking up! Hope your bunting stays with you awhile! wt

Hammom, you will know if a HOSP has claimed the box because he will go in and out of it. He will sit on top of the box and cheep away trying to attract a female. I learned from this forum to be patient. Let him think it is his for a few days. Once you see him going in and out and cheeping on top for a couple of days, set the trap at night and he won't be able to resist going in first thing in the morning. You can glue a few pieces of dry grass over the metal trap mechanism which seems to make the HOSP less suspicious of it. I have never had any other birds go into the box once the HOSP has claimed it, but I know it can happen. Use a bag you can see through like a mesh laundry bag or clear trash bag to capture the bird when you open the door to the box. That way you can be certain of the ID.

I wanted to add one more thing,I always recommend having 2 houses up,just in case a HOSP comes along,That way the Blues will always have another house to go to ,rather then leaving the area,If there is a HOSP trying to use one of my houses ,The Blues can go to the other,while I deal with the HOSP.I never let a HOSP hang around too long,before I trap him,I have found that many times even after you get the HOSP,the Blues will not return to the house(during that season) were they had a confrontation with a HOSP.Just something to think about,That is what I have found works for me.If a HOSP does show up,He is my number 1 priority.

Thanks, Karen, for the excellent site. Wow! I had no idea that sparrows were so predatory! For now, we put a piece of duct tape over the hole. I noticed the sparrows hanging around and on top of it. Hopefully, they will go elsewhere. Is it actually possible to drive them from the property permanently? I'm wondering if the nesting box is even a good place for bluebirds. It's close to our house - will that deter them? There are shrubs around it which may attract the sparrows. I have a lot to learn about bluebirds and the SIALIS site is a good place to start.