5 Types of Blue Birds in North America

Bluebirds are one of the rarest kind of birds you can find. Do you want to know where you can locate blue birds or attract them to your backyard?

From beautiful buntings to Blue Jays, North America is a haven for blue birds. Here, we identify the common types of blue birds in North America, their habitats, and their behavior.

What Are Bluebirds?

As one of the most beautiful birds, the bluebirds are members of the thrush family, with only eight species inhabiting North America. Bluebirds aren’t necessarily completely blue as some species such as Blue Jay, and Indigo Bunting has other color patches.

These birds are social, but they are very territorial during the breeding season. They live in cavities and treasure pre-made woodpecker nests. These birds are mostly found in forests, orchards, open fields, swamps, parks, and gardens.

Types of Bluebirds

1. Eastern Bluebird

This species is native to eastern North America and is a medium-sized thrush with a bright blue head, wings, and tail, and a reddish-orange breast. These birds have thin, pointed bills and long, thin legs. The Eastern Blue Bird is a migratory species found in a variety of habitats, including forests, shrubs, and backyards.

They have been cited as an endangered species and conservation efforts have been put to protect these birds. Eastern Bluebirds are cavity nesters, and can even nest and breed in your bluebird backyard birdhouse.

2. Blue Buntings

Buntings are a group of blue-colored birds with bright blue backs and reddish-brown bellies. They include indigo, lazuli, and grosbeaks, and mostly live in open woodlands, grasslands, and thickets.

The buntings are small and stocky with a short, conical bill and a fairly long, squared-off tail. Males and females are similar in appearance, although males may be slightly larger and more colorful. They are non-migratory species and can be found in most areas of North America.

3. Western Bluebird

The Western Bluebird is Native to the western United States and Canada and is similar in appearance to the eastern bluebird, but has a pale blue breast and a more muted blue head, wings, and tail. It is a medium-sized bird with blue plumage that’s prominent on its head, wing, and tail.

Smaller than their eastern counterparts, the Western Bluebird has royal blue across its top half and a rusty brown-red neck. They stay low to the ground while flying and can be found perching on low shrubs, fence posts, and signs.

4. Mountain Bluebird

Unlike other bluebirds, this species is the hardiest and lives in the mountainous regions of western North America. It has a bright blue head, wings, tail, and white breasts. They don’t migrate too far south like other birds, and they are the brightest and bluest of bluebirds.

Mountain bluebirds are vocal birds and have a variety of songs and calls they use to communicate with each other. They are social, nest in tree cavities, and compete for food and space with other birds.  

5. Blue Jay

The Blue Jay is found throughout much of eastern and central North America and is a larger, more vibrant blue than the bluebirds mentioned above. It is known for its bright blue coloring and distinctive call, which sounds like “jay, jay.”

Blue jays are intelligent and adaptable birds, and they can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, gardens, and urban areas. In the winter, blue jays often form large flocks and may visit bird feeders in search of food. They are known for their aggressive behavior, and they will fiercely defend their territory against other birds.