15 Types Of BLUE BIRDS In Colorado (ID Guide With Photos)

Did you see a blue-colored bird in Colorado? In that case you’ll probably want to know what species you saw.

To help you identify the bird you saw, we’ll cover all the types of blue birds that can be seen in Colorado.

We’ll show you the birds of Colorado that are either entirely or partially blue, and will also cover where you can expect to find these birds.

What types of birds are blue in Colorado?

The 15 types of blue-colored birds found in Colorado are:

• Western Bluebird
• Mountain Bluebird
• Blue Jay
• Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay
• Steller’s Jay
• Pinyon Jay
• Lazuli Bunting
• Indigo Bunting
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
• Barn Swallow
• Tree Swallow
• Purple Martin
• Belted Kingfisher
• Great Blue Heron
• Blue Grosbeak

Out of these 15 birds, only one species is entirely blue (the Indigo Bunting), while the others are partially blue birds.

Now let’s dive into the details, and take a closer look at each of these birds in order to get the full scoop:

Western Bluebird

Scientific name: Sialia mexicana

The Western Bluebird is the most common bluebird species found in Colorado.

It is a breeding bird and year-round resident in the western half of Colorado, and also occurs in southern parts of the state during the winter season.

Male Western Bluebirds have a deep shade of blue on their heads and backs, which contrasts with reddish orange plumage on the chest.

Female and juvenile birds on the other hand, have more subdued hues, with gray-brown upperparts and a lighter gray underside. 

While Western Bluebirds are migratory birds in northern parts of their range, they are permanent residents in the Centennial state.

These birds nest in treeholes or nestboxes, but have suffered from the competition with House Sparrows and European Starlings, which are more aggressive and chase bluebirds away from their nest sites.

The population of Western Bluebirds underwent a dramatic decline at the end of last century, due to lack of nesting holes and competition with European Starlings.

However, thanks to the efforts of numerous Colorado citizens providing nest boxes for Western Bluebirds, these birds are a common sight in Colorado once more.

These birds can be distinguished from Eastern Bluebirds (which are scarce visitors in eastern Colorado) by their orange collar, which makes the blue on their head look like a cap.

Mountain Bluebird

Scientific name: Sialia currucoides

The Mountain Bluebird is generally found in more montane habitats than the former species, but the two types of bluebirds sometimes overlap in their distribution.

Adult males are almost entirely cerulean blue, except for their pale cream colored belly. The blue plumage is darker on the back, and lighter on the chest. 

Females are buff gray, except for a light blue rump and wing feathers.

These blue-colored birds breed in western Colorado, and can be found there throughout the year. During winter they occur throughout the state, and sometimes visit bird feeders offering berries or mealworms.

Mountain Bluebirds readily accept nestboxes, and so can be attracted to nest in your backyard. However, you may need to put up several boxes, as they are often displaced by more aggressive bird species. 

Blue Jay

Scientific name: Cyanocitta cristata

Once a bird of the eastern USA, the Blue Jay has steadily expanded its range westwards and is now a common blue-colored bird in Colorado.

The Blue Jay prefers open areas with scattered trees, shrubs, and other vegetation with dense undergrowth.

These medium-sized blue birds are  grayish blue on top, with bright arctic blue wing feathers and tail feathers. Their underparts are light gray.

Blue Jays are social birds that live in small groups called colonies, with each colony containing one dominant pair and several subordinate members. 

Dominant male birds defend their territory against intruders and aggressively chase away subordinates. Subordinate females and young birds are tolerated but not protected.

This is the most common blue bird found in Colorado

These backyard birds are opportunistic feeders. They eat fruit, invertebrates, small vertebrates, and carrion, and also steal food from other animals.

During the summer, insects make up the largest part of their diet. They sometimes catch insects in flight, while at other times, they catch insects at ground level using a variety of techniques.

These blue-colored birds often use man made structures such as buildings, bridges, and telephone poles for foraging.

When hunting for food, jays often run along branches or wires before swooping down to capture prey.

Blue Jays are partially migratory birds, but live in Colorado year-round. During the cold season they sometimes move around to areas with a more plentiful supply of food. 

If you want to attract Blue Jays to your bird feeder, it’s best to offer them peanuts or sunflower seeds.

Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay

Scientific name: Aphelocoma woodhouseii

The Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay was called the Western Scrub Jay until a few years ago, and was thought to belong to a single species that occurs throughout the western United States.

However, in 2016 it was split into two different species, the California Scrub Jay (found along the Pacific Coast), and the Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay (found further inland). The population in Colorado belongs to the latter species.

This bird is a widespread jay species in the southern parts of Colorado, where it is a common bird.

Adult males and females look the same, and have an azure blue upper head, wings, and tail, as well as dark gray shoulders and a light gray belly. The largely blue body contrasts with a white throat streaked with gray.

These jays are year-round residents that can be encountered in a variety of lightly wooded habitats and scrub land. 

Steller’s Jay

Scientific name: Cyanocitta stelleri

Steller’s Jay is a medium-sized member of the jay family, and is easily recognized due to the dark blue body combined with its striking crest.

It is a common breeding bird in mountainous areas of western Colorado, but is absent from the plains in the eastern parts of the state.

Both males and females look similar, and have a dark gray to blackish head, nape, and upper back, while the rest of the body is dark admiral blue. 

While it is found year-round within its breeding range, in some years Steller’s Jays undertake irruptive movements towards the south, and show up in areas where they normally don’t occur.

Pinyon Jay

Scientific name: Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus

The Pinyon Jay is an almost entirely blue songbird that doesn’t look much like a jay, due to its slender body and thin bill. 

Adult males and females look the same and are light blue all over, with the darkest hues found around the head region, and the palest on the belly.

The Pinyon Jay is a regular breeding bird in mountainous areas of southwestern Colorado. 

However if you do find a Pinyon Jay, there are probably more of them nearby, as they like to nest in colonies containing dozens of pairs. 

It feeds on pine seeds as well as insects and fruits depending on the season.

Lazuli Bunting

Scientific name: Passerina amoena

The Lazuli Bunting is a gorgeous songbird of the western United States that visits and breeds in northern Colorado during the summer.

The hood, neck, and rump of adult males are light blue, while the wings are dark gray with a white wingbar. Males also have a chestnut orange breast and a white belly throughout the summer months.

Females are buff-brown in color with black wings and a pale blue rump.

The Lazuli Bunting may be found in western Colorado during the breeding season, which runs from May to August, before migrating to Mexico for the winter.

Indigo Bunting

Scientific name: Passerina cyanea

The Indigo Bunting is a strikingly colored small songbird. During the summer, the male is almost entirely indigo blue, except for darker brownish wingtips and tail feathers. 

Females and juvenile birds are more inconspicuous, with light brown upperparts, and creamy white underparts. 

The Indigo Bunting is relatively common in southern Colorado at forest edges, gardens, and parks, and will readily visit bird feeders that offer seeds.

This blue bird is most commonly seen at backyard bird feeders in spring, but not in summer, as it switches over from seeds to eating mostly insects during the summer.

During the breeding season, males of this bird can often be observed singing from a treetop perch.

This blue bird is a strict migrant, and is only found in Colorado during the summer. It winters in Central and South America, and migrates in small flocks during the fall migration.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Scientific name: Polioptila caerulea

Except for its long tail, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher looks a lot like a warbler.

The upperparts of adult males are blue-gray, while their underparts are a lighter gray. The tail is black with a white stripe at the margins. 

Adult females and immature birds are grayish on top, and light gray underparts. The eye of both sexes has a white eyering.

It may be encountered as a breeding bird in the temperate regions of North America, predominantly from early May through August.

This blue and white gnatcatcher is a partial migratory bird, with southeastern populations being year-round residents. Northern populations, however, spend the winter in the southern USA and Central America.

A great way to identify this bird is by its long tail that is often cocked upwards.

Barn Swallow

Scientific name: Hirundo rustica

The Barn Swallow inhabits nearly all of North America south of the Arctic circle and may be found in a wide variety of habitats.

This bird has iridescent upperparts that shimmer in various shades of dark blue when the sunlight hits them.

Its underside is reddish-orange, including a chestnut orange forehead and throat, as well as a light reddish-orange belly.

The deeply forked tail of Barn Swallows is another great feature you can use to identify this bird. 

However, keep in mind that immature barn swallows have a duller plumage than adults, as well as a shorter tail that is less forked.

The Barn Swallow used to nest in caves and hollow trees, but nowadays it prefers to do so beneath the overhangs of buildings and bridges, as well as inside barns (which explains how this bird got its name).

These Colorado swallows are still a reasonably common sight in most areas. However, the overall numbers of Barn Swallows have been steadily decreasing, especially in the northern section of their range.

This decline is likely a result of the loss of foraging areas and nesting opportunities.

The Barn Swallow feeds on flying insects, such as mosquitoes and flies, and catches them closer to the ground than other species of swallows. In its winter quarters this bird also feeds on termites.

It is a strictly migratory bird, and spends the winter in Central and Southern America.

Purple Martin

Scientific name: Progne subis

The Purple Martin is the largest martin in North America. The male is almost entirely dark purplish blue with an iridescent sheen. The wings and tail are black.

Juvenile birds and females are light gray on top, with beige white underparts. The male Purple Martin is the only martin species that doesn’t have a light colored belly.

While these blue-colored birds originally built their nest in tree cavities, they have switched over to using man-made nesting sites instead. 

The Purple Martin likes to nest in colonies, which often comprise dozens of pairs. It is a skilled aerial hunter, and feeds mostly on dragonflies.

Similar to other species of swallows, the Purple Martin drinks in flight, by skimming the surface of a body of water. 

This bird is a strictly migratory species and spends the winter in South America. It congregates in large roosts in fall, which fly south together.

The best way to attract these gorgeous blue birds to your yard is by putting up a Purple Martin house in your backyard, 

Belted Kingfisher

Scientific name: Megaceryle alcyon

The Belted Kingfisher looks superficially similar to a Blue Jay, due to its grayish blue upperside. 

However, the Belted Kingfisher is darker than a Jay, and is also more likely to be found close to water.

Adult male Belted Kingfishers are almost entirely teal blue on top, except for a white collar that separates the cap from the rest of the body.

They also have a grayish chest band, and a white belly. Females can be distinguished from males by their rufous orange flanks.

The Belted Kingfisher prefers habitats directly adjacent to lakes and rivers, where it hunts for fish by diving headfirst into the water.

This blue bird is a partial migratory bird, but can be seen year round in southern parts of its range, including Colorado.

During harsh winters, northern Belted Kingfishers migrate to southern parts of the United States. 

This blue-colored bird of Colorado feeds almost exclusively on small fish, and is therefore rarely seen far away from water. 

Great Blue Heron

Scientific name: Ardea herodias

The Great Blue Heron is one of the most common herons in Colorado, where it can be seen year round.

This large Colorado bird has a wingspan of up to 6 feet. It is almost entirely blue gray, except for a white throat and eye stripe, as well as dark gray wing feathers. 

The Great Blue Heron likes to hunt for small fish and other aquatic animals by wading in the shallows of lakes, marshes and ponds.

This bird waits patiently for a suitably sized fish to come close enough to be grabbed with its long, yellow bill.

This blue bird also forages on meadows, golf courses and grassy areas, where it stalks rodents. It is a non-migratory bird, and can be seen in Colorado all year round.

However, it requires open water in order to catch fish, and northern birds will fly to southern states if the winter is very cold. 

Blue Grosbeak

Scientific name: Passerina caerulea

The Blue Grosbeak is a beautiful songbird that has a large beak that is shaped like a cone.

The adult males are almost entirely dark blue in color, except for two chestnut-brown wingbars and black feathers on their face.

Females, on the other hand, are brownish gray with pale underparts. This grosbeak is a breeding visitor throughout Colorado, but migrates to Central America to spend the winter.

The preferred habitat of this bird is shrubland and grassland interspersed with dense bushes.

What are the large blue birds in Colorado?

The large blue birds in Colorado are jays. The most widespread blue-colored jays in Colorado are Blue Jays, although Woodhouse’s Scrub Jays are also common in southern parts of the state. 

In some parts of the Centennial State you could also be looking at either Steller’s Jays or Pinyon jays. These are also blue colored, but not as common as the two previous species.

If you’re not sure which species of jay you saw, refer to our detailed ID guide above, which has photos of all these species.

What are the blue and black birds in Colorado?

The blue and black birds in Colorado are Steller’s Jays, which have a dark brownish-black head and back, while the rest of their body is deep admiral blue. 

Steller’s Jays are birds of evergreen forests in the Rocky Mountains of western Colorado, where they are year-round residents.

If you enjoyed this article, check out our guide to the yellow birds of Colorado.