Blue Birds

Identifying Birds You Might See in Your Backyard

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

The Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds

Jays:  11 to 11 1/2" in size.  The Blue Jay is a blue bird with a crest, black markings around its face, and a white underside.  The male and female look alike.   The Steller's Jay is blue, with a black crest and throat.  The Scrub Jay is blue, with no crest, a streaked whitish throat, and a blue-gray breast band, back, and underparts. 

Food:  Jays eat insects, berries, nuts, and acorns.  At feeders, Jays will eat sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and peanuts.

Range:  Bluejays are permanent residents throughout most of the eastern United States.  Steller's Jays are found in the West.  Scrub Jays are permanent residents of much of the West and and Florida.

More info:  Cornell Lab or Ornithology - Blue Jay, Steller's Jay, Scrub Jay.

 Bluebird:  There are three varieties of Bluebirds in the United States; the Eastern Bluebird, the Mountain Bluebird, and the Western Bluebird.  The male Eastern Bluebird is dark blue with a bright reddish chest, the female is a drab gray-blue with a duller red chest.  The male Mountain Bluebird is entirely sky blue in color, the female looks much like the Western Bluebird.  The male Western Bluebird is dark blue with bright red chest, the female is drab gray blue, with a duller red chest. 

Food:  Bluebirds eat insects.  They will also eat meal worms provided at feeders.

Range:  The Eastern Bluebird can be found throughout the eastern and central United States.  The Western Bluebird is found in the western United States.  The Mountain Bluebird is found in the western mountain regions of the United States.

More info:  North American Bluebird Society.

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