John WilliamEver spotted a blue bird with a red-orange chest and wondered what it was? I’ve researched this vibrant creature, known as the Lazuli Bunting. With a blue top like the sky and a warm, rusty chest, it’s a small, eye-catching songbird. They love brushy fields and weedy spots, often near water. These buntings are seed and insect eaters, and they nest in low bushes, laying pale blue eggs. If you’re lucky, you might catch sight of one in your own backyard!
Birds that are blue with a red or orange chest
Blue birds with red or orange chests are often spotted perched on fence poles and utility wires in open pastures. These birds are roughly the size of sparrows, which is a crucial detail for identifying them. Due to the rarity of the color blue in nature and among birds, there aren’t numerous possibilities to consider. Some potential candidates that match this description include:
1. Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a large, distinctive bird found in North America. Here’s a breakdown of its key characteristics:
- Physical Appearance: Belted kingfishers have a stocky build with a large head and a shaggy crest. They typically measure between 11 to 14 inches in length, with a wingspan of 18 to 23 inches. The male and female kingfishers look similar, with both having a powder blue upper body, white underparts, and a noticeable blue breast band.
- Behavior: These birds are often seen near bodies of water such as rivers, streams, and lakes where they hunt for fish. They have a unique hunting technique where they hover over the water before diving headfirst to catch their prey. Belted kingfishers are known for their loud, rattling calls which they use to communicate with each other.
- Nesting: Belted kingfishers excavate burrows in sandy or gravelly banks near their fishing grounds for nesting. They typically raise one brood of chicks per year. These nesting burrows may be reused in subsequent years.
- Taxonomy: The Belted Kingfisher belongs to the family Alcedinidae and the genus Megaceryle. Recent research suggests that the Alcedinidae family should be divided into three subfamilies.
- Conservation Status: The belted kingfisher is classified as Least Concern on the conservation status scale, indicating that its population is stable.
Must Read about Pink Birds in Alabama
2. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
The Barn Swallow is a colorful bird belonging to the genus Hirundo in the family Hirundinidae. Here are its key characteristics:
- Physical Appearance: Barn Swallows are fairly large with a distinctive appearance. They have long, forked tails and dark rumps. Their upper parts are iridescent navy-blue, while their throats are a rich orange color. They typically measure between 14.6 to 19.9 cm in length, with a wingspan of 31.8 to 34.3 cm, and weigh between 17 and 20 g.
- Behavior: These birds are skilled fliers, gracefully darting over fields, barnyards, and water bodies in search of flying insects, which make up their primary diet.
- Migration: Barn Swallows are Neotropical migrants. They migrate south in the fall to winter in regions including Mexico, Central America, and South America.
- Taxonomy: The genus name “Hirundo” is Latin for swallow. Barn Swallows are part of this group, known as the typical swallows.
- Conservation: The Barn Swallow population is generally stable, and they are not currently considered threatened.
3. Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
Meet the charming Red-breasted Nuthatch! This lively little bird sports a unique look with its black and white striped head, blue-grey back, orangish chest, and belly. Both males and females share this appearance, though females tend to be less vibrant.
You can spot these energetic birds across most of the United States and Canada, particularly in the western and northeastern regions, where they tend to stick around all year. But come fall and winter, they might venture south.
If you catch a bird defying gravity by walking upside down on tree trunks or branches, chances are it’s a nuthatch.
These feathered friends make their homes in both coniferous and deciduous forests, often mingling with other bird species like kinglets, chickadees, and woodpeckers. They’re also known to explore orchards, parks, scrublands, and plantations when they migrate south for winter.
Feasting primarily on insects, they also enjoy munching on seeds, peanuts, and suet when visiting feeders.
You may want to read about Yellow Birds in Colorado
4. Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
Where They Live: Open areas with sparse vegetation.
Where You’ll Find Them: Western parts of North America.
What They Do: They sit on high branches, scanning the ground for insects.
The Western Bluebird, known for its striking dark blue head and orange chest, inhabits open woodlands and fields. Often spotted perched on fence posts, they feed on insects during summer and gather in flocks to consume seeds and fruit in winter. Found across western North America, some stay year-round while others migrate south for winter.
Also visit Black Birds In Florida
5. Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Habitat: Open areas with low vegetation.
Range: Eastern North America.
Behavior: Hunts insects from elevated perches.
Meet the Eastern Bluebird, a charming bird with a bright orange chest and vibrant blue upperparts. Males flaunt their colorful plumage with pride, while females sport a more subdued appearance.
You can spot these birds in open fields, farmlands, yards, parks, and woodlands.
Feasting primarily on insects year-round, they switch to fruits in the winter months.
Eastern Bluebirds typically reside in the eastern United States and Mexico, although some migrate south from the northeastern part of their range during winter.
6. Lazuli bunting (Passerina amoena)
Habitat: Brushy areas near forests, water, and hedges.
Range: Western North America.
Behavior: Often hidden in dense vegetation.
The Lazuli Bunting, known scientifically as Passerina amoena, is a small North American songbird that catches the eye with its striking colors. The male has a vivid blue head and back, reminiscent of the deep blue lapis lazuli gemstone, along with white wingbars and a light rusty breast. Females are more subdued in color, with brownish-grey feathers and paler wingbars. These birds are about 5 to 6 inches long, making them quite petite, and they have a wingspan of roughly 8.7 inches.
Lazuli Buntings is also a blue bird with red orange chest prefer brushy areas and weedy pastures for their habitat, especially places that are well-watered. They can even be found in towns sometimes. When it comes to diet, they mainly eat seeds and insects, often feeding on the ground or in bushes. During breeding season, they make a cup-shaped nest in a bush and lay pale blue eggs. Interestingly, in certain parts of their range, they may crossbreed with the closely related Indigo Bunting
Mya Bambrick
Add comment