Tough-guy bluebirds need a frontier

Among western bluebirds, the scrappier males push into new territory first. But mild-mannered dads eventually take over, a long-term analysis finds.

SMACKDOWN. Western bluebirds are retaking territory in Montana. The most aggressive males lead the invasion but then give way to family guys. Badyaev

Western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) are recolonizing their former range in valleys of western Montana, say Renée Duckworth of Harvard University and Alex Badyaev of the University of Arizona in Tucson.