The three bluebirds, and which ones live in California
North America has three true bluebirds: Eastern, Western and Mountain. In California, the two to know are the Western Bluebird and the Mountain Bluebird. The Eastern Bluebird is not a regular California bird.
Western Bluebird
Males have a blue head and back, a blue throat, an orange breast and flanks and often rusty color on the back. Females are grayer, with blue in the wings and tail. Western Bluebirds live in open woodlands, oak savanna, orchards and parks, and many stay in California through the year, with some moving to lower elevations in winter. They nest in tree cavities and nest boxes.
Mountain Bluebird
Mountain Bluebirds are a paler sky blue, with no orange. Females are gray-brown with blue in the wings and tail. They breed in open country at higher elevations and in the northern part of the state, and often move to lower, open ground in winter. They often hover over fields when searching for insects.
Blue birds that are not bluebirds
Many California birds are blue but belong to other groups:
- Steller’s Jay and California Scrub-Jay: Larger jays. See dark blue birds in California.
- Lazuli Bunting: A summer visitor with a blue head, orange wash on the breast and white belly. It is the one most often confused with a Western Bluebird, but it is smaller and has a short, thick bill and white wing bars.
- Blue Grosbeak: A large-billed blue bird with rusty wing bars, more often in brushy, warm areas.
- Swallows: Tree, Violet-green, Barn and Cliff Swallows show blue-green or blue backs but are aerial feeders.
- Pinyon Jay and Island Scrub-Jay: Regional jays.
Lookalike table
| Bird | Size vs. bluebird | Bill | Clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Bluebird | Same | Thin | Orange breast, perches upright |
| Mountain Bluebird | Slightly longer | Thin | All sky blue |
| Lazuli Bunting | Smaller | Short, thick | White wing bars |
| Blue Grosbeak | Larger | Very thick | Rusty wing bars |
| California Scrub-Jay | Much larger | Stout | Long tail, gray-brown back |
Where and when to look
Look in open areas with scattered trees and short grass, such as vineyards, parks and meadows. Western Bluebirds are often seen on fence lines. Mountain Bluebirds are more likely in high meadows in summer and lowland open country in winter, though local timing varies.
Attracting bluebirds
Bluebirds rarely eat seeds. Many people offer mealworms in a shallow dish and provide water, and plant native shrubs with berries. A nest box with the correct hole size, placed in open habitat, may also help; check local guidance for dimensions. To compare with other birds, read the list of birds that are blue.