Blue is an enchanting color in the avian world. While most birds get their vibrant colors from pigments in their feathers blue feathers are unique. The shimmering blue hues come from light scattering and the nanostructure of the feathers. When light hits the keratin and air pockets in the feathers the blue wavelengths are reflected back to our eyes. This makes blue a structural color rather than a pigment.
Blue-tailed birds span continents and habitats, with species found in forests, grasslands, deserts, and wetlands worldwide. Their tails range in length, some less than an inch, while others have tails longer than their bodies. When perched, the birds often fan out their tails to showcase the dazzling blue. Let’s look at some of the world’s birds that don blue tails.
Blue-tailed Bee-eaters
Found in Asia these aptly named birds sport long bright blue tail feathers. Their mostly green bodies also have blue eye stripes. They migrate in huge flocks but nest in colonies. While they eat bees, they also prey on other insects like dragonflies. These small birds grow to about 10 inches long.
Blue-tailed Trogons
With somber purple-blue tails, dorsums, and caps, these 11-inch birds inhabit forests from Colombia to Ecuador. Their melodic vocalizations echo as they rarely fly from their perches. The orange beak often gives away their location among the trees.
Blue-tailed Hummingbirds
As their name denotes, these hummingbirds have dark blue tails over two inches long. Their metallic green and grey bodies are on full display when the long tails open during flight. The females are greener, while males sport more blue. They live in tropical forests from Mexico to Costa Rica.
Blue-tailed Emeralds
Vibrant green males of this species have shiny blue upper and undertail feathers. Females are greyer below with some blue above. These hummingbirds grow to about 4 inches and eat nectar and small bugs They breed in South American forests
Indigo Buntings
The breeding male buntings are nearly all blue with black wings. Females are brownish with bluish tails. They summer in North America and winter in Central America while eating insects, seeds, and berries.
Blue Jays
With their iconic blue and white plumage, these songbirds use their long blue tails for communication. Omnivores, they thrive from Canada to the southern U.S. throughout the year.
Florida Scrub Jays
The only bird endemic to Florida, this jay has a blue head, wings, and tail. They eat acorns, insects, reptiles and more while inhabiting the specialized Florida scrub habitat.
Whether iridescent, turquoise, cobalt, or indigo, blue tails add splendor to the avian world. The specialized feather structure produces dazzling blue hues through physics, unlike colors from pigments. Blue-tailed birds span the globe, inhabiting diverse ecosystems. The elegant tails not only aid flight but communicate moods and breeding status. Watching these birds fan their electric blue feathers is a visual treat.
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Blue tailed birds of the World
FAQ
Which bird has a blue tail?
Male Western Bluebirds are shiny blue above with rust-orange extending from a vest on the breast onto the upper back. Females are gray-buff with a pale orange wash on the breast and blue tints to the wings and tail. The throat is blue in males and gray-buff in females, and the lower belly is whitish.
What is a brown bird with a long blue tail?
Unmistakable magpie with a black cap, sandy-brown body, white throat, blue wings, and long blue tail. Highly gregarious, gathers in noisy family flocks giving repetitive “krrr-krrr” calls interspersed with rattles.
What does it mean when you keep seeing bluebirds?
According to Native American mythology, seeing a bluebird means to look forward to New Harmony soon; the message is simple – peace is coming.
What birds are mistaken for bluebirds?
Only 2% of North American Species have blue feathers. The birds most commonly confused with bluebirds by novices are the Jays and the Indigo Bunting.
Where do blue-tailed birds live?
Forests are some of the typical habitats where birds with blue tails live. These types of birds can be rare due to them being either captured or facing issues such as a diminishing habitat. The Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia are among the continents with different species of blue-tailed birds.
What does a male mountain bluebird look like?
The Mountain Bluebird male is a stunning electric blue bird with a white belly. The wings and tail are darker, the underside is paler, and the wing and tail tips are darker grey. The female is grey-brown with lighter underparts and blue on the wings and tail.
What is a blue tail hummingbird?
Long blue tails are specific to The Blue-Tailed Hummingbird (Saucerottia cyanura), a species of The Americas. This tropical type of bird has dark blue tails longer than 2 inches. The rest of its plumage is mostly metallic green and gray. Its long blue tail is on display when spread open in flight.
Are there various types of blue birds?
While there aren’t any bird species that create blue pigment naturally, several types of birds appear blue due to optics. Here are 16 types of blue birds that exhibit different shades of blue, such as the Blue Grosbeak (Scientific name: Passerina caerulea).
What color are female Western Bluebirds?
The female’s grayish tones, contrasted with the male’s iridescent blue feathers, highlight the subtle sexual dimorphism inherent among types of blue birds. Outside breeding seasons, Western Bluebirds can be seen forming flocks with other bird species, such as Mountain Bluebirds.
What does a Bluebird look like?
A bluebird is typically recognized by its shiny blue plumage on its wings, tail, and head, with reddish-orange extending from its breasts to its upper back. Females, however, appear gray-buff with a light orange wash on the breast and blue colors on their back and wings.