There are many species of blue birds, birds with blue plumage. Identifying birds by color can be helpful during the upcoming spring migration and breeding season. Birds go through two molts per year.

Two Molts Per Year

The first happens in late summer-fall when the brighter breeding plumage is replaced by the drab basic plumage. The birds will wear this basic plumage through the fall, migration, and winter seasons.

The second molt is before the spring breeding season. The basic drab plumage is replaced with brighter feathers, called the alternate plumage. This is where the males shine. The feathers of males can be very bright and colorful. The females, particularly the species that sit on open air nests, will be drabber in appearance. The drab appearance helps the birds camouflage themselves among leaves and trees.

A Photo Gallery of Blue Birds

This photo gallery of blue birds shows mostly male birds. Studying what the birds look like before the spring migration will give you a much more enjoyable birding season.

Move your cursor over the photo to see the names of the birds. Click on the photo to see a larger photo.

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) holding larvae in its’ beak. Photo: public domain, fws.gov.

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) on bare branches in early spring. Photo by Donna L. Long t Schuylkill Center for Environmental Ed.

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) perched on a bare winter tree branch. Photo: public domain, fws.gov

Blue Grosbeak, male (Guiraca caerulea). Photo: By DickDaniels (http://carolinabirds.org/, wikimedia

Two Blue Grosbeaks, blue male and brown female. Photo: By DickDaniels (http://carolinabirds.org/-wikimedia

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) perched on grass stem. Photo: public domain, fws.gov.

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea). Photo; public domain, fws.gov.

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris). Photo: public domain, fws.gov.

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris). Photo: public domain, fws.gov

Tree-Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor). John Heinz NWR at Tinicum, Photo by Donna L. Long.

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) perched on a twig. Photo: public domain, fws.gov.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) perched on a seedhead. Photo: public domain, fws.gov

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) perched on a branch. Photo in the public domain, Federal Wildlife Service.

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) with its’ feathers fluffed against the wind. Photo public domain, fws.gov

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) eating peanuts. Photo taken Fort Washington State Park by Donna L. Long

Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). Photo: Mwanner/wikimedia commons.

Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri). Photo: public domain, fws.gov

Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri). Photo: public domain, fws.gov

Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica). Photo in public domain. , fws.gov/

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea). Photo: fws.gov

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