Western Bluebird
Western Bluebird
Adult male
- Small thrush with round head, fairly small bill
- Blue throat and brilliant, deep-blue upperparts
- Many but not all males have rusty-red shoulder/back
- © Barbara Pursell/PFW, WA, Spokane, July 2006
Western Bluebird
Adult male
- Common bluebird of many western states
- Small thrush with round head, slender bill
- Blue throat and brilliant, deep-blue upperparts
- Many but not all males have rusty-red shoulder/back
- © Jamie Chavez, CA, Santa Maria , February 2009
Western Bluebird
Adult female
- Small thrush with round head, fairly small bill
- Gray throat and belly
- Blue tinges in wings and tail
- Chestnut wash across breast
- © Tiny Gehrke/PFW, CA, Manteca, January 2009
Similar Species
Male (left), female (right)
- Male is sky blue above and below; no rusty
- Female has little or no rusty wash on gray breast
- Bill more slender than Western Bluebird
- © Ron Kube, Alberta, Canada, May 2009
Male (left), female (right)
- Mainly occurs farther east than Western Bluebird
- Male has rusty throat, not blue throat
- Male lacks rusty color on back
- Female has whitish instead of gray throat and belly
- © Ruthie Kansas, Topeka, KS, May 2009