Blue Bird Identification in Colorado and Beyond

Blue birds are a delight to spot in the wild, and Colorado is one of the best places to see them. In fact, the state is home to three species of blue birds: the Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird, and Mountain Bluebird.

If you're new to blue bird identification, it's worth noting that they're relatively small birds, typically around 6-7 inches in length. The Eastern Bluebird is the most common species in Colorado, with a bright blue back and orange chest.

One key way to distinguish between the different species is by their beak shape. The Western Bluebird has a more rounded beak, while the Mountain Bluebird has a straighter, more pointed beak.

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Bluebirds have experienced changes in range and abundance, becoming rare where they once were common and vice versa. Accurate reports of our sightings can help detect population changes.

Size is generally a key field mark for bird identification, but measures of length, weight, and wingspan of the three North American bluebird species are similar, making them unreliable for identification.

The eastern bluebird is by far the most widespread North American Bluebird, with a huge geographic range extending from Canada's southern provinces to as far south as Mexico and Honduras.

Determining the species of bluebird you see in your state is relatively easy, thanks to their wide distributional ranges and distinctive plumage.

The mountain bluebird's range overlaps with the ranges of both the western and eastern bluebirds, but its plumage is distinctive and unlikely to be confused with the other two species.

First-year bluebirds with adult plumages reach sexual maturity as early as 8 to 11 months after fledging and are capable of breeding by the following spring and summer after leaving the nest.

Adult eastern bluebirds, and bluebirds in general, wear the same plumage throughout the year, with no winter and summer plumage variation.

The rather distinctive gray plumage of juvenile eastern bluebirds is replaced with the adult plumage by the end of the Fall, but there is no age-related plumage variation after the second year.

Eastern Bluebirds are small, averaging between 6-8 inches in length, with a wingspan ranging from 9-12 inches, making them fairly easy to identify.

Their adult male bluebirds have a vibrant blue back, head, and tail that are hard to miss, especially during breeding season.

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The eastern bluebird is by far the most widespread North American bluebird, with its huge geographic range extending from Canada's southern provinces in the north to as far south as Mexico and Honduras in Central America.

Bluebirds have large ranges with relatively little overlap, and the mountain bluebird, western bluebird, and eastern bluebird have rather extensive geographic ranges.

The rocky mountains delineate the western border of the eastern bluebird's range.

The western and eastern bluebirds have largely non-overlapping ranges, except for limited areas in the southern parts of their ranges.

If you are in the green range, you most likely see a western bluebird, and if you are in the tan range, you most likely see an eastern bluebird.

The only area in central Arizona, approximately in the Grand Canyon and west of Flagstaff, is where both western and eastern bluebirds appear to stay and overlap year-round.

The mountain and eastern bluebirds have an even larger area of overlap than western and eastern bluebirds, and can be found together in northwest Texas, the eastern half of Arizona, eastern Utah, and western Colorado.

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These two bluebirds overlap only during the non-breeding season of approximately October through February.

All three bluebird species - mountain, western, and eastern - can be found in Colorado, and the eastern bluebird is a relatively common bird of the state, seen throughout the state at all times of the year.

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Bluebirds are small to medium-sized birds, with an average length of 6-8 inches and a wingspan of 9-12 inches. They can be distinguished from other birds by their bright blue plumage, with males having a deep blue top and females having a more subdued gray to bluish-gray color.

One of the most distinctive features of bluebirds is their color pattern, which includes a brick-red throat and breast in males, and a warm brown throat and breast in females. Males also have a bright blue back, head, and tail, while females have a more subdued blue color on their shoulders, primary wing feathers, and tail.

Here's a comparison of the weight of male and female Eastern Bluebirds:

When observing eastern bluebirds, it's essential to note that they have a distinctive gray plumage as juveniles, which is replaced with adult plumage by the end of the fall.

Adult eastern bluebirds are small, averaging 6-8 inches in length with a wingspan of 9-12 inches, and can be identified by their vibrant blue back, head, and tail, as well as a rust-colored accent on their throat and breast.

To tell a male from a female eastern bluebird, pay attention to the color intensity: males have a bright deep blue top of the head, back, wings, and tail, while females have subdued colors, with a gray to bluish-gray top of the head and back.

Female eastern bluebirds can be identified by their warm brown throat, sides of the neck, breast, upper belly, and flanks, whereas males have a brick-red throat and breast.

The main differences between nestling females and males are the color of their primary wing feathers, wing coverts, and tail feathers: nestling females have gray feathers, while males have blue feathers.

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Here's a summary of the key differences between male and female eastern bluebirds:

In the southern part of their range, female eastern bluebirds have warmer colors, with reddish-brown breasts, backs, sides of the neck, and head.

Distinguishing birds by size can be a bit tricky, especially when different species have overlapping measurements.

The average length of the Western Bluebird is 6.9 inches, while the Mountain Bluebird measures 7.1 inches.

The Eastern Bluebird is slightly larger, with an average length of 7.3 inches.

The table below shows the average length, weight, and wingspan for the three bluebirds found in North America. However, the range of measures for each metric in the three species has considerable overlap.

In fact, the range of measures for each metric in the three species has considerable overlap, making size an unreliable identification key to separating bluebirds.

The Eastern Bluebird is a common sight in North America, with a huge geographic range that extends from Canada's southern provinces to Mexico and Honduras in Central America.

They are small birds, averaging between 6-8 inches in length with a wingspan ranging from 9-12 inches.

You can often spot them perched on wires or fences in fields and open woodlands, looking a bit "hunched" in their posture.

The adult male Eastern Bluebird has a vibrant blue back, head, and tail that are hard to miss, especially during breeding season.

Their diet consists mainly of insects like caterpillars, crickets, and worms, but they also eat wild berries during the winter months.

To attract Eastern Bluebirds to your property, consider including fruit-bearing shrubs and trees in your landscaping, such as sumac, blueberries, and black cherry.

The Indigo Bunting is a bird species that's quite fascinating to learn about. Its length ranges from 4.7 to 5.1 inches.

One of the most striking features of the male Indigo Bunting is its bright blue breeding plumage. It's a truly spectacular sight to behold.

During breeding times, the Indigo Bunting eats insects and berries. Its varied diet also includes seeds and grass seeds on migration.

Interestingly, the Indigo Bunting uses the position of the stars to navigate during its nighttime migrations. This is a remarkable example of its adaptability and resourcefulness.

The Indigo Bunting is usually seen alone alongside waterways, and can be spotted across the state throughout the year.

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The Belted Kingfisher is a large bird with a distinctive crest that makes its head look even bigger. It's a mid-blue bird with a white underside and a thick blue band across the top of its chest.

Both males and females have this blue band, but only females have a red band across their breast.

This bird is a skilled hunter, feeding mainly on fish, but it will also eat small molluscs, insects, and amphibians. It's not picky, and will even take young birds and berries if it comes across them.

Adult Belted Kingfishers can regurgitate waste material as pellets, but their chicks in the nest can digest bones, scales, and shells, which is pretty impressive.

The Belted Kingfisher's wingspan is quite large, measuring between 18.9 and 22.8 inches, and it weighs between 4.9 and 6 ounces.

The Tree Swallow is a medium-sized bird with bright white underparts and blue above.

It has a distinctive iridescent look in sunlight, which is a common trait among similar birds.

Tree Swallows are relatively small, measuring 4.7 – 5.9 inches in length.

Their wingspan is quite impressive, ranging from 11.8 – 13.8 inches.

These birds are surprisingly light, weighing between 0.6 – 0.9 ounces.

Tree Swallows are only present in Colorado during the summer and fall months, as they overwinter in Panama.

Their diet consists mainly of insects, but they'll also eat vegetation if necessary.

During breeding season, Tree Swallows look for calcium by consuming eggshells.

The Vireo is a fascinating bird species. One of the most distinctive features of the Blue-headed Vireo is its dark blue head, which is offset by white eye rings.

These birds are adaptable eaters, consuming a wide variety of larger insects. They also supplement their diet with fruits in the winter.

The Blue-headed Vireo is particularly notable for its ability to respond to imitation calls made by humans.

The Mountain Gem, also known as the Blue-throated Mountain-gem, is a rare bird species found in Colorado during the summer.

This bird is tiny, measuring only 0.44-0.5 inches in length and weighing between 0.23-0.29 ounces.

The female Blue-throated Mountain-gem displays her interest in mating by performing short flight patterns and a special call to catch the male's attention.

It's worth noting that there are only 13 recorded sightings of this bird in Colorado during the summer, making it a very rare and elusive species.

If you're lucky enough to spot one, be sure to keep an eye out for its distinctive display behaviors.

Bluebirds are known for their striking plumage, which varies between species and even between males and females. The mountain bluebird's plumage is particularly distinctive, with males being entirely blue and females having a light gray coat with tinges of blue on the wing and tail.

In contrast, the western bluebird's male has a blue head, orange breast and flanks, and a variable amount of chestnut-brown or orange on the back. The female western bluebird has a dull version of the male's plumage, with gray replacing blue and a reddish-brown breast.

Eastern bluebirds are also easily recognizable, with males having a vibrant blue back, head, and tail, and females having a more subdued version of the male's plumage, with gray replacing blue and a warm brown breast.

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Bluebirds are known for their striking plumage, and understanding the differences between species can be a fun and rewarding experience.

The Mountain Bluebird is entirely blue, with the head and back being a more saturated blue than the breast and belly, which has a whitish center.

The Western Bluebird has a distinctive orange breast and flanks, with the back having a variable amount of chestnut-brown or orange. The folded wing is blue, bordered by orange above and below.

Eastern Bluebirds have a rust-colored accent across the throat and breast above the white belly, distinguishing them from their Mountain Bluebird relative.

Female Eastern Bluebirds have a duller version of the male's plumage, with the blue color replaced by gray, and a warm brown breast and flanks.

In some parts of their range, female Eastern Bluebirds have warmer colors, such as reddish-brown breasts, backs, and sides of the neck.

Adult Eastern Bluebirds wear the same plumage throughout the year, with no winter and summer plumage variation like some other birds.

First-year bluebirds acquire their adult plumage by the end of the Fall, and by 8 to 11 months after fledging, they are capable of breeding and reaching sexual maturity.

Bird behavior can be identified and is a fascinating way to learn about different species. For example, bluebirds have a unique foraging strategy where they sit and wait on perches at various heights, scanning the ground below for a moving insect.

This "sit and wait" strategy is not unique to bluebirds, as other birds like hawks, owls, flycatchers, and puffbirds also use it. However, the hovering behavior of the mountain bluebird sets it apart from its western and eastern counterparts.

Bluebirds often visit favorite perches throughout the day, but they can also be found in areas without suitable perches that have ideal ground cover conditions.

Colorado is a birdwatcher's paradise, with over 515 reported species, including the beautiful bluebirds we're going to explore.

The Mountain Bluebird is a relatively common bird of Colorado and can be seen throughout the state at all times of the year.

Its stunning plumage is a deep red-brown breast with defined shoulder markings and onto the back, paired with a deep, bright blue head and wings.

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The Mountain Bluebird is seen throughout Colorado, as shown on the map and chart, and is present throughout the year.

It's worth noting that the Mountain Bluebird is the only bluebird in most of Wyoming, Montana, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and part of the Northwest Territories, and Alaska.

The Western Bluebird, on the other hand, is present all year round across the state with some scarcer areas in the mountains, and can be identified by its deep red-brown breast, defined shoulder markings, and bright blue head and wings.

The Mountain and Western Bluebirds have an overlapping range in Colorado, but their distinctive plumages make them easy to tell apart.

It's also worth mentioning that the Mountain Bluebird is larger than the Western Bluebird, measuring 4.7-5.9 inches in length, compared to the Western Bluebird's 6.3-7.5 inches.