Eastern Bluebird Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesEastern Bluebird
Adult male
Small thrush with a round head and big belly. Males are blue above with a rusty throat and chest.
© Keith Kennedy / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, March 06, 2020Female/immature
Females are grayish above with bluish wings and tail, and a subdued orange-brown breast.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 19, 2020Adult male
Typically sits on fairly low perches and scans the ground for food. Note round head and small, straight bill.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 09, 2010Not all videos have sound
Juvenile
Juveniles have spotting on their backs and chest with variable amounts of blue in the wings and tail.
© S. K. Jones / Macaulay LibraryTennessee, August 23, 2016Female/immature
Small thrush with a round head and belly. Females are dull bluish gray above with varying amounts of blue on the wings and tail.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 22, 2019Adult female
Females are mostly brown above, but note the blue tinges to the wings and tail.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 09, 2010Not all videos have sound
Adult male
Small thrush with a round head. Males are deep blue above and rusty or brick-red on the throat and breast.
© Michel Laquerre / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, July 05, 2016Adult male
On males the rusty color wraps up the side of the neck.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, April 24, 2020Adult male
Song is a low, somewhat squeaky warbling that lasts about 2 seconds.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, June 07, 2013Not all videos have sound
Adult female
Small thrush with a round belly and head. Females are paler than males with a rusty chest and throat that wraps up the side of the neck.
© Joseph Boros / Macaulay LibraryOhio, December 12, 2016Breeding male and female
Nests in holes in trees or nest boxes.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 27, 2017Male and female
Often nests in nest boxes. Males may bring food items to females during courtship.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 03, 2012Not all videos have sound
Similar SpeciesWestern Bluebird
Adult male
Adult male Western Bluebirds have a fully blue throat and chestnut shoulders whereas adult male Eastern Bluebirds have a orange throat and blue shoulders.
© Brooke Miller / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 13, 2015Similar SpeciesWestern Bluebird
Female/immature
Female/immature Western Bluebirds have a dusky throat and belly unlike female/immature Eastern Bluebirds, which have a white throat and belly.
© Erica Rutherford/ John Colbert / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, June 09, 2017Similar SpeciesMountain Bluebird
Adult male
Adult male Mountain Bluebirds are a lighter sky blue than Eastern Bluebirds, without the orangish underparts.
© Joshua Covill / Macaulay LibraryMontana, April 09, 2017Similar SpeciesMountain Bluebird
Female/immature
Female/immature Mountain Bluebirds have a pale cinnamon chin and belly unlike female/immature Eastern Bluebirds, which have a white chin and belly.
© Joshua Covill / Macaulay LibraryMontana, April 09, 2017Similar SpeciesIndigo Bunting
Breeding male
Indigo Buntings are smaller than Eastern Bluebirds with a thick finchlike bill. Breeding males are entirely blue and unlike Eastern Bluebirds, which have an orangish breast.
© mark kraus / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 09, 2014Similar SpeciesIndigo Bunting
Female/immature
Indigo Buntings are smaller than Eastern Bluebirds with a thick finchlike bill. Females/immatures are browner overall compared to the more slate gray female/immature Eastern Bluebirds.
© Dan Vickers / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, October 02, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Thrushes and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Turdidae)
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