What is that Blue Bird at Your Feeder?
This blue bird photo gallery is to help you identify species that visit your garden and backyard feeders. Not every blue bird is shown here, just the most common. These are the species you are most likely to see in North America.
This is just a quick list. For more information on bird calls, sounds and natural history consult a good field guide or bird sound recording.
The birds are arranged from smallest to largest. The nesting material information is to help you decide what to put out to attract nest-building birds to your yard or garden.
Photo shows male.
Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - www.fws.gov
Eastern Bluebird (length - 6 1/2")
Sialia sialis
| Male: | brilliant blue head and back, rusty red throat and belly | | Female: | grayish-blue head; light blue back wings and tail;white eye ring. | | Diet: | insects | | Feeder food: | mealworms, raisins, berries, and peanut butter mixes | | Nest: | cavity nester - natural tree cavity, abandonedwoodpeckerhole or birdhouse. Lines nest iwth plant fibers, pine needles,feathers, hair and fine grasses. | | Birdhouse: | Yes, will nest in bird house. Hole should be 1/2" indiameterand surrouded by metal so larger birds can't enlarge hole and take offbox. | | Voice | mellow whistles chiti WEEW wewidoo | | Note: | Not a very common bird due to competition for cavitynesting sites with House Sparrows and European Starlings. |
Photo credit: wjklos on Flickr.com
Blue Jay (length - 12")
Cyanocitta cristata
| Male: | Grayish-blue back and head. Head has a crest. blackcollarand necklace; wings and tail spotted with white. The tail and wingsremind me of stained glass. | | Female: | same as male | | Diet: | nuts, acorns, insects, fruit, bird eggs and nestlings. | | Feeder food: | sunflower seed and cracked corn | | Nest: | cup-shaped using plant fibers, twigs, paper,rags and feathers. | | Birdhouse: | No, not a cavity nester. | | Voice: | a sort scream -"jay" | | Note: | This bird is found in the east and mid-westernareas of North America. |
Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - www.fws.gov
Scrub Jay (length - 12")
Aphelocoma californica
| Male: | Blue head, wings and tail; some gray or brown on back;blue necklace; white chest and belly. | | Female: | same as male | | Diet: | insects, acorns, pine seeds, eggs, bird nestlings,frogs, berries and fruit. | | Feeder food: | comes to feeders | | Nest: | a cup-shaped nest built by both the male and female andmade out of plant fibers, twigs, mosses and bark. | | Birdhouse: | No, not a cavity nester. | | Voice: | harsh, angry sounding call, "shreeeek" | | Note: | This blue bird is found in the western areas of NorthAmerica. |
Works Consulted:
A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, 2nded. by Paul J. Baicich and Colin J.O. Harrison
Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region by Donald and Lillian Stokes
Field Guide to Birds: Western Region by Donald and Lillian Stokes
The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley.
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