Bluebirds in North America (Complete Guide with Pictures)

As one of the rarest colors in nature, only a small percentage of animals are blue. There are only three species of bluerobins in North America, and all three are bold blue—at least the males.

When you count bluejays, blue buntings, and a handful of other colorful species, North America has more bluebirds than its fair share.

Bluebirds are members of the thrush family Turdidae and belong to the genus Sialia. There are only three species; eastern bluejay, western bluejay, and mountain bluejay.

Each species has one thing in common: males are predominantly blue, while females are duller but still have some blue plumage.

Here’s a guide to three species of bluerobins in North America.

oriental bluebird

Sialic acid

Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)

female eastern bluebird

eastern bluebird in flight

Eastern bluebird eating mealworms from bird feeder

length:

16cm to 21cm

span:

25cm to 32cm

weight:

28 grams to 32 grams

oriental bluebird

As the name suggests, the eastern bluebird is most commonly found in the eastern half of the United States, southeastern Canada, and as far south as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. They are both resident and migratory—the northernmost populations migrate south in autumn and winter, while southern populations stay put.

They are a common bird that can be seen in the open countryside and along roadsides throughout spring and summer. They are omnivorous foragers that feed on berries, nuts, seeds, and insects, and often perch on tree branches, hedges, and electrical wires before jumping down to scoop up insects from near the ground.

There are seven subspecies of the eastern bluerobin, including an isolated colony in Bermuda. They are a highly social bird and often gather in flocks to feed, even during breeding season.

appearance

The eastern bluerobin is probably the largest of the three species in length and wingspan, measuring 16 to 21 cm (6.3 to 8.3 in) long and with a wingspan of 25 to 32 cm (9.8 to 12.6 in). They weigh 27 to 34 grams (0.95 to 1.2 oz).

These beautiful birds have a rich royal blue back and head, and a rusty brown to warm reddish-brown breast. They have blue on their wings and tail. Female eastern bluebirds are lighter overall, with a gray head and back and a light brown breast. They retain a blue tinge on their wings and tail.

Eastern bluebirds are slimmer and more graceful than the more rounded western mountain bluebirds, but this varies by region and subspecies. They do not have the blue jaws and necks of the western bluerobin, but are similar in appearance.

West Texas is the only area where eastern and western bluerobins mix, and hybridization does occur. Hybridization with mountain bluebirds may have occurred less farther north.

western bluebird

Mexican sialic acid

Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

female western bluebird

Western bluebird perched on a branch

Female (left) and male (right) western bluebirds at a feeder

length:

16cm to 19cm

span:

29cm to 34cm

weight:

24 grams to 31 grams

western bluebird

Western bluejays have a narrower range than eastern bluejays. They are found in the Pacific Northwest, including California, Oregon, and the southern Rocky Mountains, extending as far north as British Columbia and Montana.

Their southernmost range extends into southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico, most commonly in the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz. Many birds south of the range are permanent breeders, but others migrate through Central America, rarely as far south as Costa Rica.

The western bluejay is a graceful and subtle bird with a quiet, quivering call that is most likely to be seen in the summer when they are eagerly foraging to feed their young. Like other bluebirds, they nest in burrows. They are omnivorous, but prefer insects to the Eastern bluerobin.

appearance

Western bluebirds are slightly smaller than eastern bluebirds, measuring 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 inches). They’re also slightly lighter at around 24 to 31 grams (0.8 to 1.1 ounces). The upper half of the western bluejay, including the underside of the neck, is a brilliant royal blue, unlike the eastern bluejay. It has a rusty reddish-brown neck and chest and a gray chest.

Females are more sluggish than males, especially in the head and back. However, the wings and tail are still tinged with blue.

As mentioned earlier, the only reliable way to distinguish them from Oriental bluerobins is to study the underneck (or jaw) area. Western bluebirds have a blue patch, while eastern bluebirds do not.

mountain bluebird

macrosialic acid

Mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides)

female mountain bluebird

Male mountain bluebird with an insect in its beak

Mountain bluebird perched on a snow-covered tree

length:

16cm to 20cm

span:

28cm to 36cm

weight:

30 grams

mountain bluebird

Mountain bluebirds are also concentrated in the west, but they breed as far north as Alaska, the Yukon, Alberta and British Columbia—farther north than any other bluebird. They are the hardiest species of bluebird and live high in the Rocky Mountains.

These hardy bluebirds live across much of the eastern United States, on the western fringes of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. The southernmost end of the range extends as far as Mexico, but they don’t move as far south as the other two species of bluebirds that do extend as far south as the rest of Central America.

As their name suggests, mountain bluebirds live at elevations of 7,000 feet or more. To see them, you’ll need to head to the mountains, but they’re common at high altitudes and can be easily found perched on tree branches, rocks, telephone wires, and more.

Like other bluebirds, mountain bluebirds are omnivorous and nest in tree cavities. They are social, but compete fiercely with other burrowing birds, including other songbirds.

Although their range overlaps considerably with that of the western bluebird, their preference for higher altitudes limits interbreeding. Even so, some mountain bluejays hybridize with western bluejays.

appearance

Mountain bluerobins are very similar in size to western bluerobins, measuring 15.5 to 18 cm (6.1 to 7.1 in) long and weighing about 24 to 37 g (0.85 to 1.31 oz). As such, they are slightly heavier than other bluebirds – probably because they live at higher altitudes.

Adult male mountain bluerobins are the brightest and bluest of all bluerobins, with a bright turquoise body and light blue wing undersides. They largely lack the rusty brown parts of other bluebirds. Female mountain bluebirds are gray overall, with a greenish-brown belly, thorax, and flanks. The wings have a blue tinge.

Mountain bluebirds do not have the rust-brown parts of other bluebirds and are therefore the most recognizable of the three species. Females are also grayer than other female bluebirds.

What are bluebirds?

The bluebird is a member of the thrush family Turdidae, belonging to the genus Sialic acidThe tortoise family contains about 174 species, but only about eight species inhabit North America, including three species of bluebirds.

It’s important to realize that blue jays are not just blue jays! Strictly speaking, the conjoined spelling of the word bluebird indicates birds belonging to the genus Sialia. There are other bluebirds in North America, such as blue jays, blue jays, and blue buntings.

There are three types of bluejays; eastern bluejay, western bluejay and mountain bluejay. Like most thrushes, they are cavity nesters who build their nests in prefabricated cavities, such as nest boxes or old woodpecker nests.

Bluebirds are highly social outside of the breeding season, but become increasingly territorial during the breeding season. All three species are partially migratory, with most northern populations migrating south each fall. However, southern populations usually remain in their breeding areas year-round.

Bluebird is a cave-nesting bird – mountain bluebird outside the nest

Where is the best place to see bluebirds in North America?

Bluebirds are common in North America and are common in most states, although they may be less common in the central United States.

Bluebirds live in deciduous, mixed and pine forests, orchards, fields, parks, swamps and many other habitats. Although present in some rural and suburban areas, they generally prefer wilderness areas away from human settlements.

What is the most common bluebird in North America?

The Eastern bluebird has the widest range of the three species and is also the most common in number. Populations number more than 20 million, compared with about 10 million for western bluestarts and about 6 million for mountain bluestarts.

The most common bluebird in North America, the eastern bluebird

What is the largest bluebird in North America?

Eastern bluejays have the largest wingspan of the three species, but mountain bluejays are nearly the heaviest. Margins are tight – all three species are about the same size.

On average, mountain bluebirds are the heaviest of the North American bluebirds

What is the smallest bluebird in North America?

On average, western bluejays are the smallest of the three species. They have a slightly shorter wingspan than eastern bluerobins and weigh less than mountain bluerobins.

On average, western bluebirds are the smallest bluebird species in North America

How many species of bluebirds are there in North America?

There are three species of bluejay in North America: the eastern bluejay, western bluejay, and mountain bluejay.

These are blue jays – not blue jays! Bluebirds are members of the thrush family Turdidae and belong to the genus Sialia.

Are bluebirds protected in North America?

None of the bluebird species is specially protected, and none are considered threatened. However, they are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Which bluebirds are native to North America?

The bluebird strictly speaking is a member of the thrush family Turdidae, belonging to the genus Thrush Sialic acid. There are three species: eastern bluejay, western bluejay and mountain bluejay. There are many other birds that are blue, such as blue jays, blue jays, and blue buntings.