Show plumage of the bluebird of the male bluebird thoreau said he carries the sky on his back to this john burroughs added and the earth on his breast the bird s back wings and tall chin and throat are a vivid blue while his breast and flanks are a chestnut brown and his abdomen a dirty white the female is very much duller in coloring often having a reddish tone that extends from the middle of the back over the shoulder the seminole indians say that the male bluebird once flew so high that his back rubbed against the sky which imparted to him its own azure tint returning to earth his wife so admired his new coat that she deter mined to have a like one for herself and the next morning flew away to get it but the day proving somewhat cloudy the color given to her dress was not so brilliant as was that received by her mate |