Types of blue birds

Colourful birds are always a delight to see, and these blue birds in this article are no exception. We will look at a list of 20 types of blue birds with information on identification, including pictures, where in the world they can be found and the habitat they like to live in.

The Eastern Bluebird

Our first type of blue bird is the Eastern Bluebird as shown in the image above. It is an attractive bird at around 16 -21cm length. They have a deep blue colouring to its head, cheeks, back and wings and an almost rusty orange on its throat and breast, flowing into white. 

Native to

You will find these birds as its name says on the eastern side of North America. As they are a migratory bird, they will go to the southeastern US or Mexico for winter. They go north to their breeding grounds for the summer as seen in the range map below.

Purple – year round; Pink – Breeding; Blue – Non-breeding

Habitat

The areas they prefer are open country with large trees, meadows and open  park land.

The Western bluebird

As the above picture illustrates Western bluebird differs in its appearance to the Eastern bluebird. It has blue covering its whole body except for its breast which has a rusty orange/red, making it quite striking. 

Native to 

West of the rocky mountains. They have a range right up to Canada and will winter in the southern East US and Mexico, as shown in the image below.

Habitat

They prefer farmland and open woodland and gardens

The mountain bluebird

The mountain bluebird as seen in the picture above is virtually all blue. A very attractive bird, with a turquoise blue to its back and wings, and a lighter blue on its under belly running into white. These birds are around 16-20cms in length.

Native to

Of all the bluebird species they are the one who travel the furthest North.

Habitat

Tree cavities and old woodpeckers nests.

Blue Jay

The blue Jay is a large songbird at 22-30cms in length and known to many. It has a crest of blue feathers, going on to its back and wings, white underbelly and black and white around its eyes as seen in the picture above.  

Native to 

Eastern, midwestern US, right up to southern Canada.

Habitat

Forests gardens and parks

Stella’s Jay

The Stella’s jay is a lovely looking bird. It is around 30-34cms in length. This bird has a black crest which continues down the throat, and shoulders, midway down its back. The rest is a bright blue, as in the picture above.

Native to

Western North America

Habitat

They prefer oak, pine and conifer forests.

Blue Grosbeak

The blue grosbeak is of the same family as cardinals and buntings, and is a songbird that can range from 14-19cms in length. As you can see from the above picture, It is mainly blue with brown areas on its wings.  

Native to

North and South America 

Habitat

Their habitats tend to vary, they prefer hedgerows, woodland and edges, scrub land and open areas with some trees. 

Indigo Bunting

The above bird is a male Indigo bunting, a beautiful blue plumage with darker areas to the ends of their wings. Its size is around 12 to 13 cms. 

Native to

These birds are migratory, wintering in Southern Florida and South America, to breeding grounds in Eastern North America. 

Habitat

Edges of woodlands, along rivers and streams, areas of shrubby trees and bushes. 

Lazuli Bunting

This Pretty little bunting, apparently named after the blue gemstone lapis lazuli has the most stunning blue head. The blue runs into its wings with some white and has a white underbelly and peach coloured chest, all set off by the black around the eye. The size is usually around 13 – 15 cm in length.

Native to

Southwest and Eastern half of the US. They go to warmer climates for the winter including the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico. 

Habitat  

Streams, open woodlands and shrub land, gardens

California scrub Jay

This large jay is usually around 25 – 30 cms in length. Their colouring is an Azore blue head and back with some grey colouring to the mantle area at the top of the wings. They have a white flash above the eyes and a white throat with blue coming round the front from the shoulder and a white underbelly as seen in the picture above.

Native to

Northwestern America , Southern British Columbia, throughout California as its name suggests and over to Western Nevada.

Habitat

Scrubland, woodland and gardens  

Florida Scrub Jay

The Florida Scrub Jays mantle is white like the underbelly and its throat. It does have a white streak across its eye like the California Scrub Jay. 

Native To

Endemic to Florida 

Habitat

They prefer places like old sand dunes along coasts and rivers, and scrubby flatwoods. 

Black- throated blue warbler

A stunning bird with a black face and a black throat combined with a white breast and underbelly make this little bird, who is on average around 13cm long, stand out. 

Native to

You will find these birds in Southern Eastern Canada and North Eastern US. Also migrates to the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, and occasionally the Caribbean coast of Mexico and Central America.

Habitat

Mixed and hardwood forests

Tree Swallow

At only around 12cms this bird has lovely colourings which make it stand out. The blue-green iridescent of the head, back and tail, set against the white throat, chest and underbelly. Its forked tail makes it easy to identify in flight.

Native to 

It is native to the Americas and nearby islands. A migratory bird which breeds in northern America and winters in the south.

Habitat 

Building eaves, hollowed trees, old woodpecker nests and nest boxes. 

Blue-Gray Tanager

The male Blue – Gray Tanager grows to around 16-18cms in length. As shown in the picture above it has a two tone blue colouring. A lighter blue head, throat and underbelly, with a bright blue to its wings. 

Native to

You will find this bird anywhere between Southeastern Mexico and Central and South America. 

Habitat

Streams or rivers, forest edges and gardens.   

Siberian blue robin

This little bird is around 14cm in length. They have a midnight blue color to the top of their head which goes down their back and wings. The underbelly is white. 

Native to 

Siberia, Mongolia, Northeastern China, Korea, and Japan. They tend to winter in South Eastern Asia. 

Habitat

Forest and shrub land are the preferred choice for these birds to live.

Blue rock Thrush

A medium sized bird, at around 21-23cms in length. It has a dark blue appearance as shown in the picture above. The blue appears lighter in the sun. 

Native to

Native to Southeast Asia, North Africa and Europe. 

Habitat

Cliffs, crags, slopes, valleys and urban areas

Shining Honeycreeper

A small tropical bird at around 10 cms in length, this is a striking blue and black coloured bird as seen in the picture above. 

Native to 

Central America, from Southern Mexico, Panama and northwest Colombia. 

Habitat

They prefer humid evergreen forests to live in.

White throated Magpie Jay

The white throated magpie jay as seen above, has a white throat and a white underbelly and sometimes it has white on the ends of its tail feathers. The rest of it is blues, with the exception of its crest which is black. An attractive large bird at 51cms, is easy to spot. 

Native to

Central America from Mexico through to Costa Rica 

Habitat

They will live in areas of mixed grass and woodland, Forests and forest edges. 

Ultramarine Flycatcher

This lovely looking bird is just 11 – 12 cms in length. As you can see from the picture above it has a white throat and underbelly, with electric blue on its head, mantle, wings, tails and shoulders edge.

Native to 

These birds will winter in southern India and in breeding season they will visit the foothills of the Himalayas.

Habitat

Mixed woodland and forests. 

Little Blue Heron

The colour of this heron as its name implies it is blue, the blue is a dark slate colour whilst its neck and head it mainly purple-maroon. 

Native to 

• Purple –  All Seasons – Common
• Red –  Breeding – Common
•  Pink – Breeding – Uncommon
•  Light blue – Winter – Uncommon

Most of the Americas, from North America to South America and the Caribbean. 

Habitat

Marshes, streams, swamps, estuaries, and tidal flats. 

Belted Kingfisher

This bird gets its name from the belt or band around its breast. It has a white neck and throat and underbelly. The rest is mainly a slate blue colour, which makes them quite conspicuous and easy to spot in the right place. They are quite big at 33cm in length.

Native to

North America

Pink – Breeding; Purple – year round: Blue – Non-breeding

Habitat

Streams, lakes, estuaries, marshes and ponds

In summary

I hoped you have enjoyed our look at our article about the 20 different kinds of blue birds. We have seen pictures for identification and sizes, and found out where they are native to and habitat.

You may also like to read another article I have written on birds with blue heads, there are some beautiful birds illustrated in this article, some you might have never seen before. Just follow the link, https://www.birdfinder.co/a-list-of-20-blue-headed-birds/

Another article on colourful birds is on the following link, this is on orange birds https://www.birdfinder.co/orange-birds/