You spot a flash of blue and orange hopping along the ground and fly up to get a closer look. “Ah, the Eastern Bluebird!” At least, that’s what you think. But wait – take another glance. You realize it’s not an Eastern Bluebird at all!

Several birds closely resemble Eastern Bluebirds thanks to their vibrant shades of blue. Among the most confusing are Western and Mountain Bluebirds, Blue Buntings like the Indigo Bunting and Lazuli Bunting, relatives in the Jay family such as the California Scrub-Jay, and even little songbirds like Blue Grosbeaks.

So how do you identify that bird correctly? Read on to learn how to differentiate these blue birds that often get jumbled up with Eastern Bluebirds! We’ll give you tips on their noticeable traits so you can identify them. Let’s take a closer look!

True Bluebirds: Western and Mountain Bluebirds

Let’s kick things off with the bluebirds that look most similar to our Eastern Bluebird friends – the Western Bluebird and Mountain Bluebird.

You’ll commonly mix up these two with Eastern Bluebirds thanks to their matching shades of blue and orange.

01. Western Bluebird

Found out west as you may have guessed, the aptly named Western Bluebird shares much of the same blue and rusty orange coloring as the Eastern Bluebird.

Male Western Bluebirds sport all-blue heads, backs, wings, and tails, with a grey belly and bright orange-red throat and breast. Females and juveniles are greyish overall with some blue highlights.

So, what sets them apart from Eastern Bluebirds?

Western Bluebird males have deeper, more vibrant orange-red on their throats and chests compared to the paler, peachy orange of Eastern Bluebirds.

Their blue color extends down their throats and neck, unlike Eastern Bluebirds whose orange throat stands out from the blue head.

Female Western Bluebirds have greyer undersides compared to the white bellies of female Eastern Bluebirds.

Beyond color differences, Western Bluebirds tend to perch higher up with more frequency than Eastern Bluebirds, who prefer low branches close to the ground.

And despite overlapping ranges, Western Bluebirds generally stick to the western half of North America year-round while Eastern Bluebirds roam the east.

02. Mountain Bluebird

Meanwhile, the Mountain Bluebird lives up to its moniker by hanging out in western mountain ranges and high-elevation terrain during breeding season. But come winter, they descend to lower elevations and often cross paths with the other bluebirds.

The Mountain Bluebird male sports a pale sky-blue coat from head to toe. While they lack the orange throat and chest of other bluebirds, their white bellies still stand out. Females are mostly greyish-brown with hints of blue on the wings and tail.

Compared to Eastern Bluebirds, Mountain Bluebirds have:

An all-blue body lacking the rusty orange breast
Paler and brighter blue plumage
A slightly thinner bill

Beyond physical differences, Mountain Bluebirds stick to wide open spaces like mountain meadows and grasslands whereas Eastern Bluebirds live in more forested areas.

Pro tip: if you spot one in the western mountains in summer changing to gray and white come winter, it’s certainly a Mountain Bluebird.

Blue Buntings: Indigo and Lazuli

Moving along to small songbirds of the bunting family, the aptly named Indigo Bunting and Lazuli Bunting bear an uncanny resemblance to Eastern Bluebirds thanks to their brilliant blue hues. A closer look reveals noticeable differences in size, shape, and markings.

03. Indigo Bunting

No bird lives up to its name quite like the stunning Indigo Bunting. Males boast deep, shimmering indigo feathers from head to toe, earning them the nickname “blue canary.” But that rich blue tone differs from the royal blue shades of Eastern Bluebirds.

Plus, Indigo Buntings lack the rusty orange throat and chest that typically stands out against the blue plumage of Eastern Bluebirds.

Beyond color, you can distinguish Indigo Buntings from Eastern Bluebirds by:

Size – At just 4-5 inches long, Indigo Buntings are tiny compared to the 7-inch length of Eastern Bluebirds

Shape – Indigo Buntings have plump, finch-like bodies and conical beaks unlike the sleek, rounded thrush shape of bluebirds

Markings – Their dark wings lack the neat, thin black lines along the edges found on Eastern Bluebirds

Since Indigo Buntings stick to brushy areas and woodland edges in summer while Eastern Bluebirds roam open fields and sparse woods, habitat can also help properly ID them.

04. Lazuli Bunting

Out West, the Lazuli Bunting fills a niche similar to Indigo Buntings in eastern states. Male Lazuli have vibrant blue heads, white bellies, and rusty orange chests. So, at first glance, they strongly resemble Eastern Bluebirds!

But differences lie in the details:

Blue color – Lazuli have brighter, more electric blue tones on their heads than Eastern Bluebirds

Wing markings – Lazuli’s wings have prominent white bars contrasting black tips not seen in Eastern Bluebirds

Bill shape – Lazuli’s feature the typical conical bunting bill vs the slender bill of thrushes like the bluebird

Since Lazuli Buntings predominantly live along the western edge of North America, the range can also help distinguish them from the eastern-dwelling Eastern Bluebird.

Blue Jays: Western Scrub-Jay and California Scrub-Jay

Now we come to jays and their close cousins – a group of savvy birds who add a splash of blue to the landscapes out West. Specifically, the Western Scrub-Jay and California Scrub Jay bear more than a passing resemblance to our Eastern Bluebird friends. But they have enough distinct traits once you know what to look for.

05. Western Scrub-Jay

With soft blue and grey feathers, the slender Western scrub jay shares the Eastern Bluebird’s blue-backed appearance.

However, Western Scrub-Jays lack any rusty orange tones and instead have pale grey underbellies and throats. Plus, they have a bold white eyebrow stripe that Eastern Bluebirds lack.

Other telling differences include:

Size – At 12 inches long, Western scrub jays nearly double the size of Eastern Bluebirds

Shape – Long tails and slender heads shape Western scrub jays unlike plumper, rounder bluebirds

Behavior – Scrub jays hop along the ground more often than tree-perching bluebirds

Since Western scrub jays mainly occupy the western half of North America, location can also assist in proper identification.

06. California Scrub-Jay

The California Scrub-Jay rivals its Western cousin in resemblance to the Eastern Bluebird. Adults sport deep blue wings, tails, backs, and heads with paler grey bellies and throats. But they have even more pronounced white eyebrows and throats than Western Scrub-Jays.

To correctly ID a California Scrub Jay:

Look for their black bib-like band across the chest – a mark no bluebird displays
Note the bright white under-tail coverts visible when they fly
Observe their jerky, hops vs the smooth gait of bluebirds on open ground

As their name denotes, California scrub jays live along the Pacific Coast and rarely overlap with the range of Eastern Bluebirds. So, habitat and geography can complement visual cues to properly identify these tricky jay lookalikes.

Other Blue-Colored Birds: Cerulean Warblers, Blue Grosbeaks and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers

Beyond close bluebird relatives and jays, a handful of petite blue-toned birds also bear similarities to Eastern Bluebirds at first glance. But their distinguishing traits help set them apart.

07. Cerulean Warbler

Male Cerulean Warblers sport regal blue plumage on their small frames, broken up by black streaks on their backs. White undersides and dark black-and-white wings complete their look.

Compared to an Eastern Bluebird, a Cerulean Warbler’s blue tone has more of a greenish hue. Plus, a warbler’s tiny 4-inch size, thin pointed bill, lack of orange, and loud high-pitched song differentiates it.

To ID a Cerulean Warbler, look for:

Small size and lean shape
Greenish-blue upper back unlike the pure blue tones of bluebirds
Thin white wing bars contrasting broader black-and-white bluebird wings
A high canopy perch far from a bluebird’s low tree limbs

Since Cerulean Warblers summer breed in eastern deciduous forests before migrating south, habitat preferences also don’t overlap much with open country-dwelling bluebirds.

08. Blue Grosbeak

The eye-catching Blue Grosbeak delivers sky-blue hues across its entire body, unlike the orange accents of Eastern Bluebirds. Up close, its huge silver bill gives away its identity compared to a bluebird’s petite black beak.

Other distinguishing marks include:

Larger size than a bluebird
Black face mask and rusty wing bars bluebirds lack
It forages on the ground more than tree perching

09. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Lastly, the delicate Blue-gray Gnatcatcher lives up to its name with its soft blue-tinged gray feathers with white undersides. Its tiny size, round shape, white eye ring, black tail markings, and constant flitting distinguish it from bluebirds.

Key traits that set Blue-gray Gnatcatchers apart comprise:

Very small size – just 4 inches long!
The rounded shape and short tail unlike sleek bluebirds
Dark tail with white outer edges unlike solid bluebird tails
Actively flitting through trees vs perching

Comparison Chart

To help summarize key traits of birds that often get mixed up with Eastern Bluebirds, here’s a handy dandy comparison chart. We’ve selected standout features that differ across species spanning color patterns, size, shape, and behavior.

Bird Species	Size	Color Pattern	Location
Eastern Bluebird	7 inches	Blue upper parts, orange throat/chest	East/Midwest
Western Bluebird	7 inches	The more vibrant orange throat	West
Mountain Bluebird	7 inches	Evenly pale blue	West mountains
Indigo Bunting	4-5 inches	Smaller, conical bill	East/Southeast
Lazuli Bunting	4-5 inches	Brighter blue, white wing bars	West
California Scrub-Jay	11 inches	Black chest bib, white eyebrows	Southwest/West Coast
Cerulean Warbler	4 inches	Greener blue, black streaks	East Deciduous Forests
Blue Grosbeak	8 inches	Black face, large silver bill	South-Central US

Parting Thoughts

What a whirlwind tour through the sneaky blue doppelgangers of our beloved Eastern Bluebird! We covered how to distinguish their western cousins, the vibrant bunting twins, Savvy scrub jays of the west, and little blue songbirds.

I hope breaking down standout field marks, preferred habitats, behaviors, sizes, and geographic ranges helps you confidently ID that flash of blue crossing your path. No more mix-ups between Eastern Bluebirds and tricky lookalikes! Happy birding!