Eastern Bluebird vs Mountain Bluebird: How to Tell Them Apart

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

Small28 gWoodland

Eastern bluebirds measure 16–21 cm (6.3–8.3 in) long, span 25–32 cm (9.8–12.6 in) across the wings, and weigh 27–34 g (0.95–1.20 oz). Male bluebirds have a bright head, back, and wings. Their breast is a brownish red. Females are lighter with gray on the head and back and some blue on their wings and tail. In females, the breast is usually lighter in color than in males, and is more orange.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call, song · Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve, Dakota, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Dan Vickers, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dan Vickers · cc-by

Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides

Small30 gGrassland

The mountain bluebird is 15.5–18 cm (6.1–7.1 in) in length, weighs 24–37 g (0.85–1.31 oz), and has a wingspan of 11.0-14.2 in (28-36 cm). It is sexually dimorphic in the color of the plumage but the sexes are similar in size. An adult male is bright turquoise-blue above and somewhat lighter blue underneath but with a white lower belly. An adult female has duller blue wings and tail, grey breast, grey crown, throat and back. In fresh fall plumage, the female's throat and breast are brownish near the flank, contrasting with white tail underparts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Blue Bell Campground, Custer State Park, South Dakota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Millie Basden · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

United States Canada Mexico Bermuda St. Pierre & Miquelon

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Eastern Bluebird and Mountain Bluebird.