Blue Colored Birds of Texas – Spiritual Vame

Texas is full of birds, but none stand out like the blue colored birds of Texas. Their bright feathers catch the sunlight and your attention. Whether you’re in your backyard or hiking through the woods, spotting a flash of blue is always exciting. These birds come in many shades—from deep indigo to soft sky blue. Some live here year-round, while others pass through during spring or fall.

If you’ve ever wondered what bird you saw, you’re not alone. This guide will help you learn about the most common blue colored birds of Texas. Once you know what to look for, you’ll start seeing them everywhere you go.

18 Birds That Are BLUE In Texas

There’s something magical about spotting a bird dressed in blue. But did you know that birds don’t actually produce blue pigment? Their feathers reflect light in a way that makes them appear blue. That’s why blue birds look even more brilliant in the sunlight. In Texas, you’re likely to come across many different kinds—some are here year-round, while others visit during spring migration or autumn travel to their wintering grounds across the Pacific slope or Mexico.

This list includes both popular and rare birds. Some live in riparian woodlands, while others prefer shrubbery-filled hillsides, open areas, or deciduous forests. Each species has unique traits. For example, the Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) shows off a bright blue head, white wing-bars, and rusty breast. Males are more colorful, while sandy brown females often appear duller. Their song dialects change from region to region, adding charm to their already eye-catching look.

1. Blue Jay

The Blue Jay is one of the most recognized blue colored birds of Texas, especially in backyards and parks. Its deep blue body, black head, long tail, and striking crest make it stand out. The Blue Jay’s scientific name is Cyanocitta stelleri, and it’s known for being intelligent, noisy, and sometimes even bossy. It imitates other birds and uses sharp “shaack” calls to signal danger or scare away rivals.

Blue Jays enjoy peanuts, suet, and seeds, making them common visitors at feeders. While they seem charming, they’re also known as nest robbers, often taking eggs from nuthatches and juncos. They thrive in shrubbery-filled hillsides, evergreen forests, and campgrounds, making them one of Texas’ boldest backyard birds.

2. Barn Swallow

Sleek and elegant, the Barn Swallow brings a touch of sky to open areas and farmlands. With a shiny blue back, long wings, and a deeply forked tail, these birds are expert flyers. They build nests out of mud, usually under bridges or barn rafters.

You’ll often see them darting over fields catching insects mid-air. Males and females look similar, though males tend to have longer tail feathers. These swallows are seen across Texas during spring and summer, making them a familiar sight to many.

3. Cliff Swallow

The Cliff Swallow builds large, gourd-shaped mud nests that hang under cliffs or buildings. Their blue-black back, pale forehead, and rusty throat help birdwatchers tell them apart from their cousins. These birds migrate in large groups and often form noisy colonies.

Look for them near rivers or in small towns with older buildings. They’re most active during the day, especially in warm months when insects are plentiful. Their colonies often house hundreds of birds.

4. Belted Kingfisher

This blue-gray bird is hard to miss with its shaggy crest and rattling call. The Belted Kingfisher loves water and often perches on branches above rivers or ponds. With its thick bill, it dives headfirst to catch fish.

Interestingly, female kingfishers are more colorful than males. You can see them near lakes and coastlines, especially during breeding season. They’re bold, watchful, and sometimes territorial.

5. Indigo Bunting

When you spot a bright, vibrant blue male, you’ve likely found an Indigo Bunting. It measures around 11.5–13 cm and appears during spring and summer. Females are brown all year, but males transform into shimmering blue during mating season.

These birds migrate at night, using stars for navigation, and they prefer brush, farmland, and open woodland. During summer, they eat insects, while winter brings a switch to seeds. Indigo Buntings also interbreed with Lazuli Buntings in some regions.

6. Purple Martin

The Purple Martin is the largest swallow in North America. Adult males have a glossy blue-black body, while females show a duller tone. These birds love to nest in colonies and often rely on people to provide birdhouses.

They feed entirely on flying insects, gliding with grace through the skies. Found throughout Texas, they return each year during the spring breeding season, often sticking close to open areas and water.

7. Tree Swallow

Covered in iridescent blue-green feathers, the Tree Swallow is a swift flyer with a clean white belly. They build nests in cavities and depend on old trees or nest boxes to raise their young.

These swallows eat flying insects and are known for their agility. You’ll often find them near wetlands or meadows, especially in early spring and summer.

8. Little Blue Heron

The Little Blue Heron is a graceful wader with slate-blue plumage and a calm presence. Juveniles start off white, slowly turning blue as they mature. Adults can often be seen in inland wetlands or along the Gulf Coast.

They hunt by walking slowly through shallow waters, stalking fish and frogs. Their slow, patient movements make them easy to observe and photograph.

9. Blue Grosbeak

With its deep blue body and chestnut wing bars, the Blue Grosbeak is a striking songbird. It prefers open woodlands and bushy fields, where it sings from the treetops.

Its stocky bill helps it crack seeds, though it also eats insects during warmer months. Males are more vivid than females, who are mostly brown with hints of blue.

10. Eastern Bluebird

This bird brings joy with its gentle rusty breast, blue back, and soft chirps. The Eastern Bluebird nests in cavities and birdhouses, raising 2–3 broods per year. Males and females share parenting duties, though nest building and incubation are mostly done by the female.

Their eggs are usually pale blue, and their cup-shaped nests are about 6.4×7.6 cm wide and 7.6 cm deep. Common in the Panhandle, they’re found near the Canadian River drainage and have been increasing in number by +1.5% per year since 1980.

11. Cerulean Warbler

The Cerulean Warbler is a rare visitor to Texas but an unforgettable one. Males have sky-blue upperparts, two white wing-bars, and a cottony white belly. They’re most likely to pass through eastern Texas during spring migration, especially in late April and early May.

This species prefers the high canopy of deciduous forests, making it tricky to spot. Their soft, buzzy song often gives them away before you see them. Because of habitat loss, sightings are becoming increasingly rare, making each encounter a special experience for birders.

12. Purple Gallinule

Vibrant and quirky, the Purple Gallinule is like no other bird in the state. It’s dressed in bright blue-purple plumage, with a neon red-and-yellow bill and long yellow legs. It walks across lily pads and swims through thick vegetation in southeastern wetlands.

Though it seems tropical, the Purple Gallinule nests in Texas marshes and feeds on insects, seeds, and water plants. Its strange mix of colors and chicken-like walk make it a favorite among photographers and bird lovers alike.

13. Mountain Bluebird

With its all-over vivid blue plumage, the Mountain Bluebird looks like a piece of the sky come to life. These birds migrate through the Panhandle and breed in the Trans-Pecos and other higher elevations like Fort Davis.

Males are a glowing turquoise blue, while females are grayer with bluish highlights. They nest in cavities, often reusing woodpecker holes, and feed on insects and small fruits. Their preference for cooler elevations makes them a special sight in West Texas.

14. Lazuli Bunting

The Lazuli Bunting is a small, stunning bird that visits Texas during spring migration, especially in late April through early May. Males flash a bright blue head, chestnut breast, and white wing-bars, while females are sandy brown, sometimes with hints of blue. These buntings are part of the Passerina family, closely related to the Indigo Bunting, and sometimes even interbreed where their ranges overlap.

Their size is modest—13–15 cm long, weighing around 13–18 g, with a wingspan of 22 cm. They prefer riparian woodlands, shrubs, and areas filled with mountain mahogany, willow, and chokecherry. Their nests are open cups made from grasses, bark, and rootlets, typically placed in the fork of a branch. You might hear their unique dialects, which vary depending on region, echoing across the western U.S..

15. Steller’s Jay

The Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is a bold, noisy bird with a dramatic look. Its black head, tall crest, and half-blue body make it unmistakable. Found in western Texas, especially in pine forests and mountain areas, this jay is clever and curious.

They often gather in parks, campgrounds, and picnic areas, where they aren’t shy about stealing snacks. They enjoy peanuts, suet, and other treats, and they’re known to mimic the calls of hawks. Though charming, they’re also nest robbers, raiding the homes of nuthatches and juncos. Their scratchy “shaack” calls can echo through the woods, making them easy to find by sound alone.

16. Painted Bunting

While not entirely blue, the Painted Bunting earns its place here thanks to its incredible color. Males boast a blue head, red chest, and green back—making them look like a flying rainbow. Their scientific name is Passerina ciris, and they’re often spotted in open areas, especially near brushy fields.

Females are a subtle yellowish-green, and juveniles appear similar. These buntings feed on seeds and insects, singing from exposed perches during the breeding season. They’re among the most sought-after birds in Texas due to their unique beauty.

17. Western Bluebird

The Western Bluebird has a gentle appearance, with soft blue feathers and a rusty-orange chest. Although not as common as the Eastern Bluebird, you can find them in the Panhandle and western Texas during spring and fall migration.

They prefer open woodlands and meadows, especially near water. Their nests, built in tree holes or nest boxes, hold 3–7 eggs, usually a soft pale blue. They feed mostly on insects, switching to berries and seeds in cooler months.

18. Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

Last on the list, the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay is a sharp-looking bird with a dusty blue body and a pale throat. It thrives in desert woodlands, scrubby terrain, and dry mountains of West Texas, where it hops boldly through the brush.

These jays are smart and social. They cache food for later and communicate through a range of calls. With a slimmer build and less crest than a Blue Jay, they’re easy to spot once you know what to look for. They eat insects, seeds, and sometimes small reptiles.

Conclusion

Texas is a haven for birdwatchers, especially those drawn to the colorful world of birds with blue plumage. From the noisy Blue Jay in your backyard to the rare Cerulean Warbler singing from the treetops, each bird brings life and color to the state’s landscape. Whether they nest in riparian woodlands, stop by during spring migration, or call shrubland and evergreen forests their year-round home, these blue colored birds of Texas offer endless moments of wonder.

So grab your binoculars, keep an ear out for soft songs or scratchy calls, and take a walk through your nearest trail or park. You never know when you’ll see a flash of sky blue or catch the song of a bird that’s just passing through. Texas birds don’t just perch—they impress.