Birds are fascinating creatures because they show us the beauty of life. They demonstrate the diversity and variety of shapes, colors, sizes, and behaviors found within each species.
What makes a bird beautiful? Are they always colorful, or does their plumage play a role too?
Have you ever wondered why some birds look unique? Some have striking colors or unusual shapes to attract their mates. In this post, let’s discover 15 breathtaking types of blue birds.
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15 common types of blue birds
1. Blue Grosbeak
Scientific name: Passerina caerulea
Size: It measures about 14 to 19 cm (5.5 to 7.5 in), and its wingspan is from 26 to 29 cm (10 to 11 in). It weighs from 26 to 31.5 g (0.92 to 1.11 oz).
Appearance: Males have a big triangular beak covering most of their faces, while females have a hefty beak. Males are blue with chestnut wing bars, but their mates have cinnamon plumage with brown wing bars.
It is a common bird found throughout North America. This species is named after its beautiful blue plumage during the breeding season. However, male birds lose much of their vibrant colors during winter months.
They turn into drabber versions of the females, making them easier to identify. Males are easily distinguished because of the bright blue coloring on their bodies.
Their loud and distinctive call is known as the “grosbeak song.”
Diet: They mainly feed on insects, especially grasshoppers and crickets, but also consume some seeds from wild and domesticated plants. Their insect diet includes beetles, bugs, cicadas, treehoppers, and caterpillars.
Habitat: These birds make their homes in old fields, forest edges, transmission-line corridors, hedgerows, stream edges, deserts, mesquite savannas, salt cedar forests, and southern pine forests.
Breeding/Nesting: They usually build their nest in small trees, bushes, tangles of vine, briers, or other vegetation, near open areas or roads.
The female lays 3-5 eggs per clutch, which hatch after a period of incubation lasting approximately 12 days. Both parents take turns feeding the young chicks.
2. Mountain Bluebird
Scientific name: Sialia currucoides
Size: They measure around 16 to 20 cm (6.3 to 7.9 in). Their average weight is 30g with a wingspan of 28-36 cm (11.0-14.2 in).
Appearance: It is among the brightest blue-colored songbirds in western North America, sporting a sky blue-grey front and brilliant cerulean back. In contrast, females are drab, with only a few spots of blue. Males and females look very similar, but males are larger and more colorful.
Diet: They mostly eat fruits, berries, and insects.
Habitat: They live in coniferous forests, meadows, riparian zones, and shrublands.
Breeding/nesting: Females lay 4-8 eggs per clutch. Incubation is over 13-14 days. Both parents share the responsibility of raising the young. They fledge at 18-21 days and depend on their parents for another 3 weeks to 2 months.