Blue is a captivating color in the natural world, and birds adorned in shades of blue consistently draw the eye. These avian wonders showcase a spectrum of blue hues, from the deepest indigo to the palest sky-blue, adding a vibrant touch to landscapes and backyards.
Prominent Blue Bird Species
Among the many birds displaying blue plumage, several species stand out for their vivid coloration and widespread recognition. The Blue Jay, a common sight across eastern North America, features a bold pattern of bright blue, black, and white. This intelligent bird, known for its crested head and varied calls, thrives in deciduous and mixed forests, often venturing into suburban areas where oak trees are present.
The Eastern Bluebird is easily identified by the male’s brilliant royal blue back, head, and wings, contrasted with a reddish-brown chest and white abdomen. These thrushes prefer open habitats such as meadows, orchards, and farmlands, where they can be seen perching on wires or fences. Their melodious, soft warbling calls are a characteristic sound of their preferred environments.
The Indigo Bunting, a small, finch-like bird, appears as a vibrant cerulean blue during the breeding season. Males are entirely blue, while females are brownish with hints of blue on their wings and tail. These migratory birds inhabit brushy fields, forest edges, and open woodlands across eastern North America, often singing their cheerful, bouncy songs from high perches.
In western North America, the Mountain Bluebird is entirely sky-blue, with a slightly paler underside. They are found in mountain meadows, prairies, and open areas, where they can be observed hovering while hunting insects.
The Lazuli Bunting, also found in western North America, has a brilliant blue head and back, a rusty orange breast, and a white belly. Similar to the Indigo Bunting, it is a small, finch-like bird that occupies shrubby areas, thickets, and gardens. They are known for their fast, jumbling songs sung from exposed perches.
The Blue Grosbeak is a stocky songbird with deep, rich blue plumage in males, accented by chestnut wing bars and a large, conical, silvery bill. Females are brown with similar wing bars. These birds prefer shrubby thickets, hedgerows, and old fields, where their husky, warbling songs can often be heard.
Understanding Blue Plumage
The vibrant blue coloration observed in many bird species is rarely produced by blue pigments. Instead, it is a “structural color,” resulting from the way light interacts with the microscopic structures within their feathers. These feathers contain intricate arrangements of keratin, a protein, and tiny air pockets or cavities.
When light strikes these nanostructures, only blue wavelengths are selectively scattered and reflected, while other colors are absorbed by an underlying layer of melanin. This phenomenon is similar to how the sky appears blue due to the scattering of sunlight by particles in the atmosphere. If a blue feather is viewed against the light, it may appear brown or dark because the light is no longer being reflected back to the observer, revealing the underlying melanin.
Inviting Blue Birds to Your Space
Attracting blue birds to a backyard or garden space involves providing suitable food, water, and shelter. Bluebirds, for instance, primarily consume insects during warmer months and shift to berries and fruits in winter. Offering live or freeze-dried mealworms in a tray or dish feeder is an effective way to attract them, as they are not drawn to seed feeders. Suet cakes with ingredients like hulled sunflower, peanut bits, and cornmeal can provide a high-calorie treat, especially during cooler months. Using native berry-producing shrubs and trees can also offer a natural food source, particularly important during winter months when insects are scarce.
Providing a fresh water source, such as a shallow bird bath, can attract various blue bird species. Bluebirds are particularly attracted to moving water, so adding a dripper or small fountain feature can make the water source more enticing. Maintaining a clean, unfrozen water supply is beneficial year-round.
For shelter and nesting, bluebirds are cavity nesters, relying on natural tree hollows or specially designed birdhouses. Placing nest boxes in open, sunny areas, five to ten feet off the ground and away from dense trees, is recommended. The entrance hole should be approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, and the box should have proper ventilation and drainage. Leaving dead trees or branches, if safe, can provide natural nesting cavities and perches for hunting.