Do you want to know what a bluebird looks like?
I’m going to suppose that you’re having trouble recognizing a bird in your backyard.
Believe it or not, even experienced birdwatchers struggle to identify the precise bird they have seen.
Let’s face it, you may easily become preoccupied with it and allow it to sour your experience of birdwatching.
Learn everything you can about common bird species, such as the bluebird, to get the hang of it.
You’ll improve your ability to identify birds in this method.
It really is that easy.
And this book will teach you everything you need to know about recognizing the eastern bluebird, which is the most prevalent backyard species.
Well, this is absolutely doable, and I’ll teach you how to achieve it in this guide.
You don’t have to be an expert to follow along, so don’t stress about that.
I’ll demonstrate for you how to recognize various bluebird species as well as their arrival signals in your yard. You won’t have to doubt your ability to identify a bluebird once you do!
Ready? Let’s leave.
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What Do Bluebirds Look Like?
The first step in quickly identifying an eastern bluebird is to examine its size, shape, and coloration.
Let’s examine the appearance of a bluebird adult male.
Male Bluebird Size
Small birds include eastern bluebirds. They are larger than a sparrow but smaller than an American Robin when compared to other birds.
Do you need exact measurements?
A typical Bluebird is:
- Size: 6 to 8 inches (16-21 cm)
- Size: 1 oz (28-32 g)
- 9–12 inch wingspan (25-32 cm)
Male Bluebird Shape
The thrush family includes bluebirds. This describes their small, rounded heads and their plump, little bodies.
Bluebirds typically stand very straight.
Bluebirds have long feathers but short tails, as you’ll see.
They may easily perch because they have little feet as well.
Male Bluebird Color Pattern
The name might lead one to believe that bluebirds are entirely blue. However, they come in a range of hues.
From their face all the way down to their tail, the male bluebirds’ top feathers are a vivid blue color.
Then you’ll observe stunning rusty orange or subdued red feathers on their throat and breast.
The underfeathers are a light greyish-off-white tint.
Legs, feet, and the beak are either dark grey or black.
Let’s now have a peek at the species’ female.
What does a female bluebird look like?
Bluebirds of both sexes share the same size.
As a result, their coloration will be the most effective approach to distinguish them.
Bluebird females can be a little harder to notice because they aren’t as colorful as the males.
Most of the female bluebird’s feathers are light brown or grey. On the tips of their wings, though, there is a tiny flash of that stunning blue.
The male is on the right in this picture, and the female is to the left.
Notice how much more vivid the blue is on the male? The female’s blue is discrete and can be challenging to see.
What other birds look like Bluebirds?
It’s common to mistake an eastern bluebird for another bird because they have similar looks.
This is typically a blue-colored bird or a different kind of thrush.
The most frequent birds you might mistake for eastern bluebirds are:
- Western bluebirds have a blue throat as opposed to a red one.
- Mountain bluebirds are all blue, with the exception of their grey undersides.
- Buntings indigo are dark blue overall with grey wings at the tips.
- The blue jay is a larger-sized crested bird.
You might even discover that you mistake young female bluebirds for sparrows. Their undeveloped size and pigmentation are primarily to blame.
What do bluebird feathers look like
The feathers of bluebirds are particularly striking. Typically, they have completely blue feathers without any other identifying features.
Depending on the area of the bird from which it comes, a bluebird feather can range in length from 1-2 inches (3-6 cm).
What does a baby bluebird look like?
Depending on the age of the baby bluebirds you’re considering,
A hatchling will have a golden beak and be bald, however they are frequently pink with gray spots.
A bluebird nestling will mostly be a dark, fluffy grey. The blue tip on their wings immediately begins to form. This will become apparent when they are 5-7 days old.
A fledgling bluebird (about 3 weeks old) resembles a female bluebird quite a bit. Their wings are primarily grey with blue tips.
A young bluebird has pretty obvious white patches on its wings and breast that set it apart from an adult female.
What do bluebird’s eggs look like?
They are typically little about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and 0.7 inch (2 cm) broad. In other words, roughly the size of a penny or occasionally a nickel.
Like a robin’s egg, bluebird eggs are a gorgeous shade of blue.
The eggs of a bluebird are solid in color and lack any color variations or marks like speckles.
What do bluebird nests look like?
A bluebird’s nest appears to be a regular bird nest. But because bluebirds prefer to nest in cavities, it will be difficult to spot one without looking.
The traditional cup-shaped nest of a bluebird is constructed from finely woven grass and pine needles.
Bluebirds are renowned for using feathers, fur, or long hair from other animals to bolster their nest’s insulation.
An old oak or pine tree typically has a decent bluebird cavity. Other popular areas for bluebirds to nest include bird boxes and old woodpecker holes. These crevices may be 2 to 50 feet above the ground.
Other ways to identify a Bluebird
Although a bluebird can be recognized mostly by looks, there are various ways to confirm your suspicions.
This encompasses both noises and actions.
Let’s examine what you may expect to see and hear in your yard from bluebirds.
Bluebird noises
Bluebirds use a variety of vocalizations to communicate, most of which are quiet and low-pitched.
Additionally, they sing brief melodies with mild tones.
When courting potential mates, pursuing intruders, or fending off predators, these sounds and songs may be a little louder and harsher.
Listen to some eastern bluebird noises to see if your yard has any of those sounds.
Eastern Bluebird Behaviours
Most of the time, you can find an eastern bluebird searching for insects on the ground.
Bluebirds are typically amiable creatures, and the only time they become aggressive is during mating and nesting season. Male cavity-nesting birds and other males may occasionally be seen fighting.
In fact, bluebirds want to interact with people and won’t be afraid to feed or nest close to your house.
Mealworms should be offered in your feeders if you want to draw eastern bluebirds to your backyard so you can watch them. A mealworm offering drives bluebirds mad.
Final thoughts
You now know how to quickly recognize bluebirds that visit your backyard, thanks to this advice.
Start with the dimensions, form, and color.
Keep in mind that bluebirds come in a variety of colors, including male, female, and young. They are simple to mistake for other bird species.
If you’re still not sure, pay attention to the sounds they produce and observe their behavior.
In no time, you’ll be able to identify bluebirds with ease.
If you have bluebirds visiting your backyard, please let me know in the comments section below.
FAQ
What color is a female bluebird?
Grayish blue
Can bluebirds be dark blue?
Bluebirds appear to come in a variety of blue tones. Some birds are a dull blue, while others are a vivid blue. They can even appear black at times.
Where do bluebirds get their color?
contrary to many other bird hues, blue is a color created by the structure of the feathers rather than a pigment. Each feather contains tiny air bubbles and crystals of the melanin pigment, which scatter blue light and absorb other wavelengths.
What is the real color of bluebirds?
Blue is unique because no bird species can produce blue pigments. The interaction of light waves with the feathers’ keratin-arranged protein molecules is what gives birds their characteristic blue color. Blue is a structural hue, in other words.