A list of 20 blue headed birds

The colour blue is thought to be the rarest colour in nature. In this article we will look at a list of 20 blue headed birds and see how beautiful the colour blue is in the bird world.

We will look at identification with the aid of pictures. We will find out where in the world they live, their habitat, diets and other interesting facts.

20 blue headed birds (All images are of the male of the species unless stated)

1. Variegated Fairy Wren 
2. Superb Fairy wren
3. Red-Winged Fairy Wren
4. Common grackle
5. Indian Roller
6. Blue-headed Pionus
7. Cassowary (including all three of the species)
8. Lazuli bunting
9. Blue-necked Tanager
10. Painted bunting
11. Blue-headed hummingbird
12. Eurasian Blue tit
13. Blue-headed bee-eater
14. Madagascar blue Vanga
15. Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay
16. Green Jay
17. Black-Throated blue warbler
18. Blue-crowned manakin
19. Chestnut-bellied rock thrush
20. Blue-headed quail-dove

Variegated Fairy Wren (Scientific name – Malurus lamberti)

This pretty little bird has wonderful colouring, this colour is for breeding season only as all the fairy wrens change to less brightly colouring depending on the time of year. The vivid turquoise blue head, cheeks and eye ring is stunning. It has a black bill, breast, back and nape. There is purple at the sides and a chestnut colouring to the shoulders and brown wings, with a white-cream underbelly. It has a very long tail in comparison to its body which is blue /grey and as with most wrens this is in an upright position.  

Measurements	Length – 11.5 – 14.5 cm Weight – 6.5 -10g
Native to	Eastern Australia
Habitat	Forest, shrubland, woodland, coastal
Diet	Mainly Insects, some small seed

Range map of the Variegated Fairy Wren

Superb fairy wren (Scientific name – Malurus cyaneus)

Our next bird is called the superb fairy wren. You can see from the image above it has its breeding colours. As you can see it has a pale blue head, cheeks and nape, with black eye stripes which goes on to the back of the head, and a black lower back and bill. The dark blue throat, breast and tail and a bright white underbelly make this a very attractive looking bird.

Measurements	Length – 14cm Weight – 8-13g
Native to	Southern Eastern Australia
Habitat	Eucalypt woodlands & forests
Diet	Mainly insects, small seed & fruit

Range map of the Superb fairy Wren 

Red-Winged Fairy Wren (Scientific name – Malurus elegans)

The image above shows another beautiful member of the Fairy Wren family. The red-winged fairy wren. A beautiful light turquoise head, cheeks and part of the upper back, whilst the throat, breast and lower back are a dark navy blue. Again they have some red-brown on the shoulders, and brown wings and tail. These lovely birds are one of the larger of the fairy wrens found in Australia.

Measurements	Length – 14-15.5 cm  Weight – 8.5 – 11.5g
Native to	South Western Australia
Habitat	Eucalypt forest, coastal heath, dense vegetation near water
Diet	Mainly insects & spiders

Range map of the Red-Winged fairy Wren 

Common Grackle (Scientific name – Quiscalus quiscula)

The common grackle is number four on our list of birds with blue heads. Although these large birds do appears black in colour, they have a very iridescent colouring. Therefore, depending on the light it can show colours from the deepest purple, to turquoise and blue. This is set off by their bright yellow eyes, making them an attractive bird. They are known for their long broad tail which can be seen on the image above.

An interesting fact about this bird is that it is reported they use a practice called anting. This is when they allow ants to climb on them and secrete formic acid, this is thought to kill off any parasites they might have. 

Measurements	Length – 28-34 cm Wingspan – 36 – 46 cm Weight – 74 – 142g
Native to	North America
Habitat	Open woodlands, marshes, pastures, parks, backyards
Diet	Insects, berries, seed

Range Map of the Common Grackle

Approximate range in North America

 Yellow –  Breeding range

 Green –  Year-round range

 Blue –  Wintering range

Indian Roller (Scientific name – Coracias benghalensis)

The Indian Roller is a bird around the size of a jay. Its plumage has mainly different shades of blue as you can see from the image above. They have a light blue cap on their heads. Its breast is a burnt orangey brown colour and has a dull orange eye ring. Quite often observed perched, or on a branch of a tree. 

The image below, of the Indian Roller in flight, looks rather splendid. Showing off the two toned blues of its wings and tail feathers.

Measurements	Length – 30 – 34 cm Wingspan – 65 – 74 cm Weight – 166 – 176 cm
Native to	India
Habitat	Scrublands, grassland
Diet	Insects, spiders, frogs, snakes

Range map of the Indian Roller

Blue-headed parrot (Scientific name – Pionus menstruus)

The above bird is the blue-headed parrot or as it is also known the blue-headed Pionus, has a beautiful blue head, face, neck and breast. They have a pale grey eye ring and the rest of the plumage is mainly green with some red tail feathers underneath. They live in small groups.  

Measurements	Length – 28 cm Weight – 234 – 295g
Native to	Central & South America
Habitat	Tropical rainforest , savannahs
Diet	Seed, fruit, grain

Southern Cassowary (Scientific name – Casuarius casuarius)

Measurements	Height – 5ft 8 Weight – 55 – 76kg
Native to	Northern New Guinea, Northeastern Australia, Aru Islands
Habitat	Rainforests, woodlands, mangroves, swamps
Diet	Mainly fruit, will take small vertebrae, frogs, snakes, birds etc

Northern Cassowary (Scientific name – Casuarius unappendiculatus)

Measurements	Height – 4ft 10 – 5ft Weight – 47kg
Native to	Northern – Western New Guinea
Habitat	Coastal swamps, lowland rainforests
Diet	Mainly fruit, small animals, insects

Dwarf Cassowary (Scientific name – Casuarius bennetti)

Measurements	Height – Approx 4ft Weight – 17 – 26kg
Native to	New Guinea, New Britain
Habitat	Mountain forests
Diet	Fruits, small insects & animals

These large flightless birds with a blue head are the Cassowary. They are the third largest flightless birds in the world after the ostrich and the emu. The birds are smaller in stature to the emu, who is the second tallest bird, but the Southern cassowary is heavier. They have an almost prehistoric look with its helmet or casque as it is known on its head. This is made up of keratin, the same substance that makes up hair and nails. Part of its neck and head have no feathers and as you can see from the above images these are coloured brightly with reds and blues. 

There are three species of this bird left today. They are the southern, northern and dwarf as shown in the images above. 

The Southern cassowary is known to be the largest. The main difference between the southern and northern is the southern has two wattles, were the northern cassowary has one. The northern has a slightly shorter bill. Whilst the dwarf has no wattles, and as its name suggests is smaller than the other two. 

An interesting fact about these birds is that they are well known for their aggressive nature towards humans and domestic animals and have been known to attack. 

Below is an image of all three of the Cassowary.

Range map of the Cassowary

Lazuli bunting (Scientific name – Passerina amoena)

These charming little birds get their names from the beautiful blue gemstone Lapis lazuli and looking at the image above you can understand why. A striking bird with a blue head, back, wings and tail. Whilst they have a peach breast and white underbelly. 

Measurements	Length – 13 -15 cm Weight – 15g
Native to	North America
Habitat	Near water & streams, open woodland, shrub land, thickets & hedges
Diet	Mostly insects & seed

KEY – Orange – Breeding, Yellow – Migration, Blue – Non-breeding

Blue-necked Tanager (Scientific name – Tangara cyanicollis)

What an attractive looking  blue headed bird, the blue necked tanager as seen in the image above has the most beautiful brilliant blue head and neck with black eye rings. With it colourful wings set on the black plumage of its body. 

Measurements	Length – 12 -13 cm Weight – 14 – 19g
Native to	South America
Habitat	Sub tropical forests & lowlands
Diet	Fruit, berries, flowers, insects

Painted Bunting (Scientific name – Passerina ciris)

Just looking at this beautiful coloured bird you can see where their name came from. The painted bunting has a blue – purple coloured head as seen above, the throat, breast and underbelly are red and they have a red eye ring. Their back and wings are a mixture of greens, yellows and some red which goes on to their tail feathers. A very pretty looking bird. 

Measurements	Length – 12 – 13 cm Weight – 13 -19g
Native to	North America
Habitat	Semi open areas, woodlands, thickets & scrubland
Diet	Mostly seed & insects

Range map of the Painted bunting

Blue-headed hummingbird (Scientific name – Riccordia bicolor)

As with most hummingbirds this sweet little bird has an iridescent plumage. The colour changes with the light. With a violet blue head and blues and greens within plumage. They have a very straight bill. They are a beautiful specimen. 

Measurements	Length – 9-11 cmWeight – 4.5 – 4.7g
Native to	Dominica & Martinique
Habitat	Forests
Diet	Nectar & arthropods

Range map of the Blue-headed hummingbird

Eurasian Blue Tit (Scientific name – Cyanistes caeruleus)

This little common garden and bird feeder visitor, Eurasian Blue tit, is a lovely blue headed bird. Although these birds can look sweet and cute, they can act a little aggressive towards the smallers tits, such as willow, and coal tit. If you watch them at garden feeders, they do tend to dominate. They are also in a greater number than any other species of bird. However they are put in their place by the larger great tit.

As you can see from the image above they have mainly a white face with a black eye strip, blue bib, head and nape, with some blue on their wings and tail. Their back and underbelly are a yellow green in colour. 

An interesting fact about the blue tit is that they time having their offspring to coincide with the Oak month green caterpillar. As these are one of the main sources of food.

Measurements	Length – 12 cm Weight – 11g
Native to	Europe
Habitat	Woodland, hedgerows, parks, gardens
Diet	Insects, spiders, caterpillars, seed,

Range map of the Eurasian Blue Tit

Blue-headed Bee-eater ( Scientific name – Merops muelleri)

The blue headed bird above is a type of bee eater as its name plainly says. There are 27 types of Bee-eaters. They mainly live in Africa and Asia, one in Australia, and one type in Europe. The blue headed bee-eater as seen in the above image has a beautiful blue – purple head, breast, underbelly and tail. They have a red bib and a red – brown back. They have a distinctive long bill with curves downwards.

Did you know that most bee-eaters catch their prey on the wing? Their favourite prey are Bees. They would catch these on the wing, whilst in flight and take them back to their favourite post. Their prey, then gets whacked, until sedated, and rubbed to remove the stinger, before being eaten.

Measurements	Length – 19 cm  Weight – 24 – 30g
Native to	Africa
Habitat	Scrub forest, rainforest
Diet	Bees, insects

Madagascar Blue Vanga (scientific name – Cyanolanius madagascarinus)

The amazing looking Madagascar blue Vanga bird seen above has the most the have a wonderful blue and white plumage and a pale blue eye ring, set off by the black eye stripe through to the base of its bill. 

Measurements	Length – 16 – 19 cm  Weight – 19 – 25g
Native to	Madagascar
Habitat	Subtropical and tropical forests
Diet	Insects, amphibians, earthworms, lizards

Range map of the Madagascar Blue Vanga

Woodhouse’s scrub Jay (Scientific name – Aphelocoma woodhouseii)

The Woodhouse’s scrub Jay, as seen in the image above. Their beautiful sky blue wings and tail and a light grey underparts, make this an attractive bird. The image above shows they have a speckled white throat and some white specks above their eyes. 

Measurements	Length – 27 – 31 cm Weight – 80g
Native to	North America
Habitat	Scrublands, forests, woodlands
Diet	Mainly insects, spiders, snails

Range map of Woodhouse’s scrub Jay

Green Jay (scientific name – Cyanocorax luxuosus)

The green jay is a wonderful coloured songbird. They have a blue head with a black eye mask and throat. With a yellow green breast and underbelly and a darker green, back, wing and tail.  

An interesting fact about this bird is that it has been observed using sticks to prise off the bark on trees to find insects. They are in the same family as crows and magpies and appear to be as clever as they are known to be. 

Measurements	Length – 25 -29 cm Weight – 66 – 110g
Native to	North American to Central
Habitat	Woodlands, scrubland, near waterways, humid forests
Diet	Insects, seeds, nuts, berries, fruit

Black-Throated blue warbler (Scientific name – Setophaga caerulescens)

This little warbler has a lovely deep blue head, back, wings and tail as you can see from the image above. Their black face, throat and flanks is set off against the white breast and underbelly. A very pretty little bird. 

Measurements	Length – 12 – 13 cm Weight – 8 – 10g
Native to	North America
Habitat	Forests & woodlands
Diet	Mostly insects, spiders

Range map of the Black-Throated blue warbler

Blue-Crowned Manakin (Scientific name – Lepidothrix coronata)

As its name suggests this little bird has a bright blue crown. The rest of the plumage tends to be black as you can see in the above image.

Measurements	Length – 8.5 – 9 cm Weight – 12g
Native to	South America
Habitat	Tropical & subtropical lowland moist forest
Diet	Fruit

Range map of the Blue-Crowned Manakin

Chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Scientific name – Monticola rufiventris)

As you can see from the image above the beautiful blue head of the chestnut-bellied rock thrush is quite striking. The royal blue colouring continues on the throat aspect, wings, back and tail. The chestnut colouring of the belly as suggested in its name is wonderful against the blue. This wonderful bird is well known for its beautiful warbling song. Similar to the Bee-eater birds, the Chestnut-bellied rock thrush, will bash their prey it catches before consuming it.

Measurements	Length – 21 – 23 cm Weight – 48 – 61g
Native to	Northern regions of Indian subcontinent & Southeast Asia
Habitat	Forest & woodlands
Diet	Mainly insects

Blue-headed quail-dove (Scientific name – Starnoenas cyanocephala)

The Blue-headed quail-dove has a bright blue crown to its head, with a black eye stripe and a white stripe under that as seen in the image above. In addition they have an unusal, white bordered black bib to the breast. This is flanked by black and blue stripes to the top.

In 2020 this bird was categorised as endangered the species. They are very rare, and have a very small population, which is in decline. Due mainly to to hunting, predation and habitat loss. (IUCN Red list, 2023)

Measurements	Length – 30 – 33 cm Weight – 213 – 189g
Native to	Endemic to Cuba
Habitat	Lowland forests & swamps
Diet	Invertebrates and fruits

Range map of Blue-headed quail dove

References & Links

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22690970/178419260

In summary

I hope you have enjoyed reading this article of a list of 20 birds with blue heads. We have seen images to help with identification along with the sizes and information on where they are native to, habitat, and diet.  

Lastly you may want to check out another article. Birds with red heads. Just follow this link and enjoy. https://www.birdfinder.co/category/mixed-birds/

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