Let me guess. You spotted a bird with a undecorous throne and want to know what type it is. Or, maybe the bird had some undecorous on its head. Either way, youve come to the right place!

This vendible includes wild bird species in the US and Canada with undecorous heads. They could have an unshortened undecorous throne or part of it is blue.

The next step is to identify it.

Ive been yard birding for increasingly than 25 years and have seen many blue-headed birds in my yard so can speak to them. For the remaining bird species, I rely on my trusty sourcebooks and friends at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology to guide me.

Along with each bird listed in this article, a trappy photo of each one is included to help you identify the bird youre interested in.

A range map is moreover included and remoter helps narrow lanugo the species youre laid vision on. If the bird listed doesnt exist in your zone you can probably eliminate it from the running.

It doesnt stop there. This vendible moreover includes a unravelment of each bird, its habitat, diet, nesting habits, and plane what foods itll eat at the feeder (you never know if you want to vamp increasingly of them!).

The range maps are color-coded so you know if its a year-round bird, there to breed, migrating through, or there during a nonbreeding time. Time of year is flipside track to identifying the bird.

range map verisimilitude coded key

My hope is that this vendible will help you hands identify the bird that you saw so lets get at it!

Birds with Undecorous Heads

Northern Parula

Northern Parula on a branch
Northern Parula. Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash
AppearanceSmall bird well-nigh 4.5″ long, blue/gray with a yellow throat and when patch, bluish-gray overall with a yellow-green patch on the back, a brown wreath on lower, white strips whilom and unelevated each eye. Females are similar but increasingly muted colors. neck, and 2 white wing bars.
DietSpiders, insects, berries, seeds, nectar.
Feeder FoodUnlikely to visit a feeder.
HabitatPrefer forested areas expressly when water is present (streams, marshes) and in the lowland where moss is present.
NestingNests are built in mossy vegetation as upper up as 100′ at the end of a branch. 1-2 broods/season, 2-7 eggs/brood, eggs are well-nigh .65″ long, white with red/brown/purple speckles and incubation lasts well-nigh 12-14 days.

Range Map

Northern parula range map.
Northern parula range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Rock Pigeon

Rock Pigeon
Rock Pigeon. Photo by Kieran Somerville on Unsplash
AppearanceLarge bird 12-14″ long, stubby with blue/gray wings with woebegone pointy tips, short red legs, black, round wide tail, and iridescent neck. 
DietGrains, seeds, and fruit. Commonly seen scavenging trash cans for food.
Feeder FoodMillet, croaky corn, black-oil sunflower seed, safflower, peanut hearts.
HabitatCommon virtually cities and towns as well as farmlands
NestingA large nest of sticks and grass wherever there’s a ledge (e.g. highway overpass, barns, bridges, tall buildings). 1-6 broods/year, 1-3 eggs/brood, eggs are white, incubation well-nigh 18 days and the young fledge at well-nigh 25-32 days.

Range Map

Rock pigeon jay range map.
Rock pigeon jay range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

Woodhouse's Scrub Jay
Woodhouses Scrub-Jay.
Appearance11-12″ large bird, light undecorous and gray, white throat, gray vitals separated by an indistinct, wilted stripe of unexceptionable undecorous on chest, and long wide tail. Sexuality are similar.
DietInsects, fruit, nuts, seeds, lizards and nestling birds, sometimes finding nests.
Feeder FoodWhole peanuts, sunflower seeds.
HabitatPinyon pine habitats, dry shrublands of Nevada on south, suburbs and parks.
NestingBasket shaped nest of twigs and plant in pinyon pine or shrub between 6-14′ up. 1-5 eggs, eggs .9-1.3″ long, stake untried blotched with olive, or stake gray spotted with brown. Incubation 17-19 days and long fledge 17-19 days.

Range Map

Woodhouse's scrub jay range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.
Woodhouse’s scrub jay range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Pinyon Jay

Pinyon Jay
Pinyon Jay. Photo by Tom Duncan.
Appearance10-11″ long bird, dusty undecorous soul and lighter undecorous vitals and throat, short tail, and no crown. The sexuality looks similar.
DietPrimarily Pinyon-pine seeds, acorns, fruit, and grains. Moreover consumes insects, lizards, snakes, nestling birds, and small mammals.
Feeder FoodWhole peanuts, sunflower seeds, suet, croaky corn.
HabitatForested areas comprised of Pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, scrub oak, and other pine trees.
NestingLarge unwieldy nests of sticks and twigs in the trees well-nigh 3-115′ up. 1 brood/season, 2-5 eggs/brood, eggs are 1.3-1.5″ long, stake undecorous with visionless brown specks, incubation last 17 days and young fledge between 21-22 days.

Range Map

Pinyon jay range map
Pinyon jay range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Mexican Jay

Mexican Jay
Mexican Jay. Photo by Carl Bendorf.
Appearance11.5″ long, large undecorous bird with gray/blue back, soft white underparts and long tail.
DietAcorns, pinyon nuts, insects, spiders and lizards.
Feeder FoodN/A
HabitatOpen woodlands near pinyon and oak trees.
NestingCup-shaped nest of twigs located tree. 1-6 eggs, eggs are untried with visionless markings but some have no markings.

Range Map

Mexican jay range map.
Mexican jay range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Island Scrub-Jay

Island scrub jay
Island Scrub Jay. Photo by Damon Tighe.
Appearance13″ long, large vibrant undecorous bird, visionless gray when and mask, white throat, light gray belly, large bill, and long tail. Sexuality is similar.
DietAcross, insects, spiders, snakes, lizards, mice, and other birds’ eggs and nestlings.
Feeder FoodN/A – Only 2 people inhabit the island.
HabitatFound exclusively on Santa Cruz Island, California.
NestingBuilt with sticks, twigs, and roots in dumbo bushes and trees. 2-5 eggs/brood, incubation is well-nigh 20 days.

Range Map

Found exclusively on Santa Cruz Island, California.


Florida Scrub-Jay

florida scrub jay perched on a plant
Florida Scrub Jay. Photo by Save Our Florida Scrub Jays.
AppearanceAbout 10″ long, large undecorous bird, light gray when and belly, swipes of white through forehead, and very long tail. Sexuality is similar.
DietVaried nutrition of insects, nuts (especially acorns), berries, small snakes, mice, and lizards.
Feeder FoodWhole peanuts.
HabitatLow-growing scrub oak exclusively in Florida.
NestingCup-shaped nest of twigs and fibers located at the edges of scrubbed areas. 1-2 broods/season, 1-6 eggs/brood, eggs are well-nigh 1″ long, untried with brown spots, 16-21 day incubation and young fledge at well-nigh 12-25 days.

Range Map

Florida scrub jay range map.
Florida scrub jay range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Common Grackle

Common Grackle
Common Grackle. aPhoto by Patrice Bouchard on Unsplash
Appearance12.5″ long bird with iridescent undecorous with purple and bronze. Vision are yellow, long flared tail. Sexuality is similar with less vibrant coloring (more brown) and shorter tail.
DietInsects, grains, seeds, fruit, scavenged garbage.
Feeder FoodSunflower seeds, black-oil sunflower seeds.
HabitatFields with scattered trees, unshut woodlands, farmlands, and marshes. Worldwide in suburban yards.
NestingBulky cup-shaped nest of twigs placed 3-20′ upper in conifer tree. 3-5 eggs incubated for 12-15 days. Young fledge at well-nigh 12-15 days.

Range Map

Common grackle range map.
Common grackle range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

California Scrub-Jay

California Scrub Jay
California Scrub Jay. Photo by Rob Stanard.
AppearanceLarge bird 11 long, slender, shades of unexceptionable ultramarine undecorous and gray, brown patch on the back, white underparts, undecorous necklace, and long tail. Sexuality squint the same.
DietInsects, nuts (especially acorns), seeds, fruit, other birds eggs and nestlings and small animals.
Feeder FoodWhole peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet.
HabitatAlong the edges of the west tailspin including from Baja, Mexico to the southernmost part of British Columbia. Prefer unshut areas with zaftig trees and scrubs plane within suburban and urban areas.
NestingLarge and unwieldy open-cup nest of twigs and bark, in a tree or small-time well-nigh 3-10′ up. 2-3 eggs/brood, incubated for 15-17 days and young fledge between 18-23 days. Eggs are 1-1.5″ long, stake untried blotched with olive, or stake gray spotted with brown.

Range Map

California scrub jay range map.
California scrub jay range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash
AppearanceTiny birds 4.25″ long, soft blue/gray upperparts, white eye-rings, white underparts, long woebegone long tail with white under. Females are the same. The tastefulness male is accented with narrow woebegone eyebrows.
DietInsects and spiders.
Feeder FoodUnlikely to visit the feeder.
HabitatDeciduous forested areas.
NestingNest: Tidy cup-shaped nest of natural fibers, bark, and spiderweb well-nigh 3-80′ upper in a tree or shrub.
Broods: 1-2 broods/season
Clutch: 3-5 eggs/brood
Egg color: Stake undecorous with red/rown spots.
Egg size: 0.5 – 0.6 inches by 0.4 – 0.5 inches
Incubation: 11-15 days and the young fledge at well-nigh 10-15 days.

Range Map

Blue gray gnatcatcher range map
Blue gray gnatcatcher range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Belted Kingfisher

Belted kingfisher on a perch
Belted kingfisher. Image by Katherine Durtnell from Pixabay
AppearanceLarge 13″ long bird with a large head, long bill, and stocky body.  Blue/gray throughout with white ring virtually neck and white chest. Sexuality is same but with spare titian wreath on chest.
DietMostly fish with some crustaceans, insects, amphibians, reptiles, young birds, small mammals, and berries.
Feeder FoodUnlikely to come to the feeder but often attracted to yards with streams or ponds.
HabitatNear streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and wifely marine waters – expressly unclouded water with little vegetation.
NestingDig burrows withal waters edge. 1-2 broods/season, 5-8 eggs/brood – large white slick eggs (1.5″ long), 22-24 days incubation.

Range Map

belted kingfisher range map
Belted kingfisher range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow. Photo by Lisa Minica.
Appearance7″ long, steel undecorous slick on top, titian forehead and throat, and rust-orange underparts. Long forked tail with a white base. The female’s coloring is lighter and the tail shorter.
DietInsects, preferably beetles, wasps, and flies. Drinks by skimming the surface of the water.
Feeder FoodNot likely to visit a feeder.
HabitatOpen fields and pastures.
NestingTypically nests in or on a manmade structure such as a barn. Builds nests of mud. 2 broods/season, 4-5 eggs per brood, eggs are white with brown markings, incubation from 13-17 days.

Range Map

barn swallow range map
Barn swallow range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Lazuli Bunting

Lazuli Bunting
Lazuli Bunting. Photo taken at the Powell Butte Nature Park in Portland, taken by Patti Bright.
AppearanceSmall bird 5-6″ long, sunny undecorous on top, soft orange-cinnamon verisimilitude chest, white vitals and patch on the shoulder, tapering bill, and slightly unappetizing forehead.
DietInsects, fruits, and grasses.
Feeder FoodWhite proso millet, sunflower seeds, or nyjer thistle seeds.
HabitatOpen woodlands, brushy hillsides, thickets, and backyards throughout the West.
NestingCup-shaped nest of bark, twigs, and leaves nestled in a shrub well-nigh 3′ up. They have 1-2 broods/season, 3-4 eggs/brood, and eggs are .7-.8″ long and stake undecorous to faint green/blue or white. 11-14 days incubation period.

Range Map

Lazuli bunting range map.
Lazuli bunting range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Black Throated Undecorous Warbler

Black-Throated Undecorous Warbler.
Black-Throated Undecorous Warbler. Photo by Forest Jarvis.
Appearance5″ long, midnight/steel undecorous back, woebegone throat, white belly
DietInsects and fruit.
Feeder FoodSuet, peanut butter, and nectar.
HabitatPrefer mature deciduous and mixed evergreen woodlands with plenty of thick shrubs.
NestingCup-shaped nest in shrub made of yelp and spider webs. 1-3 broods/season, 2-5 eggs/brood, eggs are small .6″-.8″, linty white and speckled. 12-13 days incubation and fledges at x

Range Map

Black throated undecorous warbler range map
Black-throated undecorous warbler range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Cerulean Warbler

Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler. Photo by Ruth Cornwell.
AppearanceSmall 4.3″ long bird, sky-blue above, white wing bars, darker undecorous streaks on back, white belly, steel/blue neck wreath & stripes on the sides. Females are light blue/green above, soft yellow belly, brown wings, and a bit of white under the eye.
DietInsects and plants.
Feeder FoodUnlikely to visit feeder.
HabitatDeciduous forests with mature tall trees.
NestingCup-shaped nests of twigs, grass and spiderwebs placed in tree 16-115′ up. 1 brood/season, 1-5 eggs/brood, eggs are .6-.8″ long, gray/green and speckled with brown, incubation lasts 11-12 days.

Range Map

Cerulean warbler range map.
Cerulean warbler range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow
Tree Swallow. Photo by Lisa Minica.
Appearance5-6″ long, visionless metallic undecorous – blue/green with white belly, notched tail and pointed wing tips. Females have same coloring but a bit duller.
DietInsects and small fruits.
Feeder FoodUnlikely to visit a feeder.
HabitatOpen areas such as fields, large lawns, and marshes.
NestingCavity nester, will use a manmade nest box or natural woodpecker tree hold. 1 brood/season, 4-6 white eggs, 13-16 days of incubation.

Range Map

Tree swallow range map.
Tree swallow range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Purple Martin

Purple Martin
Purple Martin. Photo by Ruth Cornwell.
Appearance8.5″ large bird with blue/purple head, back, and vitals with woebegone wings and tail.
DietInsects expressly dragonflies.
Feeder FoodUnlikely to visit a feeder.
HabitatUsually within 100′ of human dwelling. Purple Martins exist in large colonies.
NestingCavity nester primarily using manmade nest boxes which unbend a colony of birds. 1 brood/season, 4-5 white eggs/brood, 15-18 days incubation, fledge without 26-30 days.

Range Map

Purple martin range map.
Purple martin range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak. Photo by Donna Cooper.
Appearance8″ long, large, unexceptionable blue, large silver bill, and titian wingbars, Female’s primary verisimilitude is light cinnamon with darker colored wings.
DietInsects, seeds, and grains.
Feeder FoodGrain and birdseed.
HabitatThick shrubbery and areas with tall trees.
NestingNest: Small cup-shaped nest of twigs and miscellaneous organic materials resting in low-lying trees, shrubs, and bushes.
Brood: 1-2 broods/season
Clutch: 3-5 eggs/brood
Egg color: Stake undecorous to white with occasional brown spots
Egg size: 0.8 inches by 0.7 inches
Incubation: 12-13 days incubation.

Range Map

blue grosbeak range map
Blue grosbeak range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird
Mountain Bluebird. Photo by Arnold Joe.
AppearanceSmall bird well-nigh 7″ long. Sky-blue color, darker undecorous wings and tail, lighter shades of unelevated underneath, white undertail with woebegone wing tips, and straight thin bill. Females are gray/brown with a big of soft undecorous on their wings and tail.
DietInsects, fruit, and seeds.
Feeder FoodUnlikely to visit a feeder.
HabitatOpen woodlands, fields, prairies.
NestingNest: Cavity nesters – will use an old woodpecker hold or manmade nesting box.
Brood: 1-2 broods/season
Clutch: 4-8 eggs/brood
Egg size: 1″ x .8″
Egg color: Stake undecorous to bluish-white (rarely pure white)
Incubation: 18-21 days

Range Map

Mountain bluebird range map.
Mountain bluebird range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Western Bluebird

Western bluebird perched on branch
Western Bluebird
AppearanceSmall bird 7″ long, deep undecorous underparts, orange-chestnut when and breast. Sexuality gray/blue, light undecorous wings and tail, and stake titian breast.
DietInsects, fruits & berries.
Feeder FoodMealworms
HabitatOpen woodlands expressly those with pines and oaks, orchards, and farmland with some trees.
NestingNest: Cavity nesters – old woodpecker hold or manmade nesting box.
Brood: 2 broods/season
Clutch: 4-5 eggs/brood
Egg color: Stake undecorous without blemishes, although sometimes are white
Egg size: Length: 0.8-2.4″ x Width: .8″
Incubation: 12-18 days and young fledge at well-nigh 20 days.

Range Map

Mountain bluebird range map.
Mountain bluebird range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Blue Jay

Blue jay on snowy branch
Blue jay. Photo by Cathy Cardone.
AppearanceLarge bird 12″ long, medium undecorous & white body, undecorous crest (which he flattens at will), gray vitals and white face. White & undecorous wings with woebegone spots. Sexuality squint the same.
DietInsects, fruit, seeds, nuts, other birds’ eggs and nestlings.
Feeder FoodWhole peanuts, sunflower seeds, and croaky corn.
HabitatForested areas with mixed trees types. Moreover worldwide in suburbs and urban areas.
NestingNest: unwieldy large nest made from twigs, bark, and mud resting on a tree workshop well-nigh 5-50′ up.
Broods: 1-2 broods/season,
Clutch: 2-7 eggs/brood,
Egg color: Stake undecorous to a light brown wiring color, and these eggs usually have brown or gray spots.
Egg size: 1 inch by just under 1 inch
Incubation: Both parents incubate the eggs for 17-18 days and the young fledge between 17-21 days.

Range Map

Blue jay range map
Blue jay range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Wouldn’t you love to have undecorous jays in your yard? Trammels out: 7 Proven Ways to Vamp Undecorous Jays to Your Yard.


Indigo Bunting

Indigo bunting male
Male indigo bunting. Photo by Lonnie Gilstrap.
AppearanceSmall bird 5 long. Tastefulness males are unexceptionable undecorous with short, gray, triangle-shaped beaks, and visionless undecorous wings with a skim of tan. Wintering male and first-spring male are patchy brown and blue. Females are a soft yellowish-brown and some light streaking on the underparts.
DietSmall seeds, insects, and fruits. 
Feeder FoodAlthough not a regular at the feeder you may entice them with nyjer/thistle and white millet seeds.
HabitatBrushy fields, on weedy plants, scrub, and withal the edges of the woods. Moreover in clearings within deciduous woods, and edges of swamps.
NestingCup-shaped nest in shrubs or trees 3 high. Shrubs or trees 3 high. 1-3 broods/season, 3-4 eggs/brood, eggs are white with few brown spots.

Range Map

Indigo bunting range map
Indigo bunting range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

For increasingly detail well-nigh the Indigo Bunting such as its mating & nesting, how to vamp them to your yard, and more: trammels out Proven Ways to Vamp Indigo Buntings.


Eastern Bluebird

Male eastern bluebird
Male eastern bluebird. Photo by Mike Carmo.
Appearance7 long, royal blue, orange throat & breast, white vitals & undertail. Sexuality is similar but increasingly muted colors
DietInsects & spiders in spring/summer. Small fruit in Fall/Winter. 
Feeder FoodSuet, sunflower seeds, zestless fruit, jelly. 
HabitatWide-open spaces, fields, meadow.
NestingNest: Cavity nesters. The male bluebird determines the nest site (an old woodpecker slum in a tree or manmade nestbox), but the sexuality is the one who builds the nest. She keeps the nest for multiple broods.
Brood: 2-7 broods/season
Clutch: 4-5 eggs/brood
Egg color: Stake undecorous eggs (sometimes white) with no blemishes or discoloration. 
Egg size: 0.9 inches by 0.8 inches
Incubation: 11-19 days

Range Map

US map showing the migration range of the eastern bluebird
Map depicting where Eastern bluebirds can be found throughout the year. Compliments of Cornell University.

Wrapping Up

Blue-headed birds come in all shapes & sizes. They moreover exist in various parts of North America.

This vendible contained all the information you need for well-judged and fast identification of the bird you spotted.

  1. First, take a squint at verisimilitude photos of birds matching your description.
  2. Then, trammels out the species range map to personize whether or not the species lives in your area.
  3. Finally, learn well-nigh its habitat and nutrition to remoter refine the characteristics of the bird you saw and the known facts well-nigh it.
  4. Youve got a match!

So, did you identify the bird you were interested in? Let me know unelevated in the comments.

Happy Birding!