Pay attention to where you are birding, and learn how to tell the difference between a western bluebird vs an eastern bluebird.
Western Bluebird vs Eastern Bluebird: ID Challenge
Updated on Aug. 13, 2024
On This Page
Bluebird Species: Western vs Eastern Bluebird
There are three species of bluebirds, all found in North America: the eastern, western and mountain bluebird.
I love seeing bluebirds. Near my home in Indiana, I can only see one species, eastern bluebird, but when I travel, I always enjoy seeing the other two species.
For identification, western bluebirds vs eastern bluebirds are quite similar while mountain bluebird looks quite different. It’s helpful to learn what to look for as you aim to identify all three species.
Bluebird Clue: Range and Location
As the name would suggest, the eastern bluebird is the species that you would expect to see in the eastern United States. Its range extends west to the Rocky Mountains.
For the most part, where the eastern bluebird’s range ends, the western bluebird’s begins. This species can be found from the Rockies west to the Pacific Coast.
Do bluebirds migrate in winter?
The name of the mountain bluebird gives you a pretty good idea of where it is most common—the mountains. The mountain bluebird breeds in the west, from the western states up through Canada and parts of Alaska and across the Rocky Mountains. One thing you might notice on the range map is that this species is more likely to show up as a rare bird out of its “normal” range than the other two bluebirds.
Learn how to make a DIY bluebird house.
Bluebird Clue: Field Marks
While at first glance, eastern and western bluebirds may appear similar, there are notable differences. Notice on this male eastern bluebird (above) how bright white the belly is!
Compared to the eastern bluebird, the male western bluebird has a blue rather than white belly and the orange extends to the scapulars.
The male mountain bluebird is bright blue all over, with no orange or white, and looks unmistakable.
Don’t miss more beautiful pictures of bluebirds.
Female Bluebirds
The females of eastern and western bluebirds appear quite similar. However, the female mountain bluebird is much more likely than the male to be confused with the other two species. Note how the female mountain bluebird is brown rather than orange like the eastern and western bluebirds.
Psst—here’s how to tell the difference between a bluebird vs a blue jay.
