The color blue is extremely rare in nature, making it more mesmerizing than it already is. A few flowers and birds are blue, but beyond that, we don’t see much else of that hue when admiring wildlife. A blue bird really is a sight to see, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with blue birds in North America so you can admire and identify them.
Common Blue Bird Species in North America
If you live in North America, you might see a few blue bird species appear in your backyard. Keep an eye out for the following birds.
1. Eastern Bluebird (Common blue bird in North America)
- Scientific Name: Sialia sialis
- Location: Open areas from southeastern Canada to Nicaragua
- Size: 6 to 8 inches
With a name like “bluebird,” it’s hard not to think of this species when looking for birds with a blue hue. Male eastern bluebirds have stunning light blue feathers everywhere besides their pale red-orange chests and white bellies. Females only have pale blue feathers on their wings while everything else is white or rusty brown. To attract females, males wave their blue wings around while sitting in nest cavities.
2. Western Bluebird
- Scientific Name: Sialia mexicana
- Location: Semi-open woodlands and forest edges across western North America
- Size: 6 to 7.5 inches
Western bluebirds have a similar appearance to eastern bluebirds because they have blue feathers, red-orange chests, and white bellies. However, the blue on male western bluebirds is much brighter than on other bluebird species. Sometimes, other birds who have lost their own nests will help western bluebirds tend to their nests and raise their young.
3. Mountain Bluebird
- Scientific Name: Sialia currucoides
- Location: Open grasslands and mountain meadows across western North America
- Size: 6 to 7 inches
Mountain bluebirds lack the white and red-orange feathers of other bluebirds and are instead light blue all over. Females are mostly gray-brown with small patches of blue on their wings and tail. These blue birds nest in existing cavities, such as spaces excavated by woodpeckers or artificial nest boxes. Rather than focusing on factors like songs, colors, and mating displays, females choose males based on the quality of nesting cavity they provide.
4. Blue Jay (Recognizable blue bird)
- Scientific Name: Cyanocitta cristata
- Location: Woodlands of eastern and central North America
- Size: 10 to 12 inches
When people picture a blue bird in North America, a blue jay is probably the species that comes to mind. Blue jays have an iconic look that includes blue, white, and black feathers, along with a pointed crest. Unlike bluebirds, both male and female blue jays are bright blue. Blue jays can mimick the calls of other birds, and they most commonly repeat sounds of hawks.
5. Blue Grosbeak
- Scientific Name: Passerina caerulea
- Location: Fields and woodland edges across Mexico and southern United States
- Size: 5.5 to 7.5 inches
Male blue grosbeaks are dark blue with rusty brown stripes on their wings. However, females are almost completely brown with only pale blue markings on their wings. Like other grosbeaks, this species has thick, curved bills that are perfect for cracking hard shells of seeds. Yet, their primary source of food is insects when available.
6. Indigo Bunting
- Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea
- Location: Fields and forest edges from southeastern Canada to northern South America
- Size: 4.5 to 5 inches
Indigo buntings have bold blue feathers that are impossible not to notice among the greens and browns that typically appear in nature. Females are brown all over, allowing them to blend in easier. These blue birds migrate at night, following the stars to help them determine direction. Indigo buntings sing different songs depending on where they grew up because they listen to other birds to learn the notes.
7. Florida Scrub Jay (Blue bird with small range)
- Scientific Name: Aphelocoma coerulescens
- Location: Only in the Florida scrub
- Size: 9 to 11 inches
This pale white and blue bird exists in North America, but only in a very small range. They only live in Florida, specifically the sandy, scrubby areas of the state. They’re social birds that rarely travel more than a few miles from the place they hatched. So, the offspring often stick around when they’re full-grown to help their families raise future broods.
8. Mexican Jay
- Scientific Name: Aphelocoma wollweberi
- Location: Mountain woodlands of Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico
- Size: 10.5 to 12.5 inches
Both male and female Mexican jays have solid blue feathers on their backs and bright white bellies. Their appearance may vary slightly based on the elevation they live at. For example, Mexican jays of lower elevations have hooked bills designed for eating acorns while those in high elevations have straight bills that make it easier to eat pine nuts. They use their bills to stab acorns and nuts to access the interior.
9. Cerulean Warbler
- Scientific Name: Setophaga cerulea
- Location: Deciduous forests from eastern United States to northern South America
- Size: 4 to 4.5 inches
This beautiful blue bird species is mostly blue with a white belly and white patches. Females appear more green than blue. During the breeding season, they live in the northeastern United States, but then they migrate all the way down to South America. Once they reach South America, they often gather in mixed-species flocks.
10. Steller’s Jay (Bird with blue body)
- Scientific Name: Cyanocitta stelleri
- Location: Coniferous and mixed mountain forests of western North America
- Size: 11.5 to 13.5 inches
Steller’s jays have a striking appearance that includes a bright blue lower body and a dark gray neck and head with a tall crest. Both males and females display this unique color pattern. The exact placement of the blue and dark gray feathers may vary between regions, with some birds having more blue than gray. Even though these birds are so recognizable, they can be tricky to spot because they hang out high in the tree canopies.
11. Tree Swallow
- Scientific Name: Tachycineta bicolor
- Location: Open areas near water across North America
- Size: 4.5 to 6 inches
Male and female tree swallows both have shimmering blue-green feathers on their backs and white bellies. However, males are the more vibrant of the two. Even though they typically fly in open areas, they find tree cavities for nesting, which is how they got their name. These little birds are great at flying, sometimes catching insects in mid-air. When it’s time to migrate, tree swallows gather in massive groups, which could contain hundreds of thousands of birds.
12. Black-Throated Blue Warbler (Black and blue bird)
- Scientific Name: Setophaga caerulescens
- Location: Dense hardwood forests of eastern North America
- Size: 4.5 to 5 inches
Male black-throated warblers have a dark mask around their eyes and throats, but the remainder of their bodies are blue and white. Females are a solid light brown color that looks very different from the uniquely-patterned males. Since males and females look nothing alike at first glance, they used to be labeled as different species. You may hear these warblers make relaxed, buzzy songs.
13. Blue Bunting
- Scientific Name: Cyanocompsa parellina
- Location: Thickets and woodlands from Mexico to Nicaragua
- Size: 5 to 5.5 inches
Male blue buntings resemble indigo buntings, but this species has a thicker bill and varying shades of blue. Their feathers are often a lighter blue near the face and darker around the body. Females are a dark brown hue. As beautiful as these birds are, they can be hard to spot since they don’t live near humans and travel alone or in pairs rather than large flocks.
14. Lazuli Bunting
- Scientific Name: Passerina amoena
- Location: Open, brushy areas of eastern North America
- Size: 5 to 6 inches
The lazuli bunting has a distinct light blue head, which only appears on males. Then, males have an orange-red chest and white belly, similar to the eastern bluebird’s colors. Female lazuli buntings have solid light brown feathers, so they blend in better. This blue bird species can recognize other birds by their voice. Young birds learn the songs of nearby birds and end up copying their calls as they grow up, so sounds vary based on location.
15. Red-Legged Honeycreeper (Extremely vibrant blue bird)
- Scientific Name: Cyanerpes cyaneus
- Location: Forests from southern Mexico to central South America
- Size: 4.5 to 5 inches
Red-legged honeycreepers aren’t widespread across North America, but instead, they only live in southern Mexico, extending all the way to central South America. These blue birds are striking because they have bright red legs, dark blue bodies, and light blue crests. The coloring almost looks too vibrant to be real. They’re active birds that constantly move across the forest canopy.
Identifying Blue Bird Species in North America
Colorful birds stand out in a flock, so next time you notice a blue bird in North America, see if you can identify it. All the above birds are colorful additions to backyards, and there are even more blue bird species not listed. See how many of these species you can find next time you’re out exploring nature.
