In this article I compiled a list of some of the most colorful birds in north America. There are so many different colorful birds in the United States alone, that I found this article getting bigger and bigger until finally I realized I had to stop somewhere. So while I may not have every colorful bird listed here, I have quite an extensive list. Feel free to suggest any you think belong on this list in the comments.
Some of the birds are common and recognizable, others aren’t. Not all will eat at feeders and not all are birds that you will regularly see in your backyards, but when you do they really stand out in a crowd. One thing they all have in common though, is their beautifully bright colors. This is a rather long list and took me quite some time to compile so I hope you enjoy!
MOST COLORFUL BIRDS IN NORTH AMERICA
I’ll start this list off with the bird that a lot of us think of when we think of colorful birds, the Northern Cardinal…
1. NORTHERN CARDINAL
One of the most eye-catching birds in North America is the Northern Cardinal, particularly the male. The male cardinal is the one bird that starts people off with bird watching more than any other bird, according to the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. Found mainly in the eastern half of the country, the cardinal is the state bird of Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Illinois. Check out my article on interesting facts about the Northern Cardinal.
Bluebirds
As their name suggests, bluebirds are very colorful blue birds! There are 3 species of bluebirds in North America. Eastern and western bluebirds have a very similar blue and orange coloring, while their mountain dwelling relative is entirely blue.
2. EASTERN BLUEBIRD
The Eastern Bluebird’s territory covers a larger range than the western. Easterns can be found throughout the eastern and central states. Bluebird’s striking blue colors really make it a backyard favorite. While it does not often come to feeders, the bluebird will readily eat mealworms if they are provided. The bluebird will use a nest box if one is available and is one of the most loved birds to make its nest in a birdhouse. They feed mainly on insects, fruit and wild berries.
3. WESTERN BLUEBIRD
Westerns Bluebirds are only in the states along the west coast and that border Mexico. Eastern and Western bluebirds appear very similar with bright blue heads and backs and rosy-orange on their breast. Western bluebirds have more of a blue chin. The Western Bluebird will also use a nest box if one is available and feeds on the same things as other bluebirds.
4. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD
The mountain bluebird can be found in the western half of the U.S. up into Canada and down into upper Mexico. They like high, open mountain country in the summer, and plains and prairies in the winter. The males are a bright turquoise and sky blue with a white belly, and lack the rosy orange of the eastern and western bluebirds.
5. VERMILLION FLYCATCHER
While more common in Mexico and Central America, the Vermillion Flycatcher can be found in the southern parts of the country such as Florida, Louisiana, Southern Nevada and Texas. The adult male, pictured here, has bright orange or bright red colors and is very easy to spot in a crowd. They feed on insects and as open nesters prefer making their nests in the crooks of tree branches.
6. VARIED THRUSH
The Varied Thrush is found in the Pacific coast states. As with most birds, the male (shown here) has the bright and flamboyant colors. They are known for being aggressive and territorial birds. These beautiful birds may eat bird seed from the ground but also feed on insects. They prefer nesting in the mature evergreen forests of the Pacific Northwest.
7. CEDAR WAXWING
The Cedar Waxwing is a very unique looking bird and can be easily identified by the black mask that wraps around its head, covering its eyes. Their diet consists of mainly fruit and berries but they do feed on insects as well. If you want to attract them to your yard you can plant fruit bearing trees and berry bushes. They are known for having waxy red secretions on the tips of their wings, hence the name waxwing.
8. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH
One of my personal favorite birds to spot, American Goldfinch is found all over the U.S. and year-round in a lot of places. They can be seen in backyards and at feeders snacking on a few different types of seeds including sunflower seeds and thistle. They are vegetarians and pretty much eat only seeds. They nest in shrubs and bushes and will have one to two broods per year. Their plumage becomes a duller olive green color during the non-breeding season, sometimes leading people to believe it is a different bird.
Jays
Many of us may think of the blue jay when we talk about jays, but there are actually 10 species of jays found in North America. Jays are known for being colorful, noisy, and somewhat territorial. Below are 3 species of jays found in North America that are very colorful and worth mentioning.
9. BLUE JAY
Along with the Northern Cardinal, the Blue Jay is one of the most common colorful backyard birds in North America. Their diet consists of seeds, nuts, berries, and insects although they have been known to feed on other bird eggs. They are also known to vocally mimic hawks and birds of prey, whether this is to alert other jays of danger or to scare away other birds is unclear. They are commonly seen at feeders and bird baths.
10. STELLER’S JAY
Found mainly in the mountainous regions of the western parts of the country and on into Canada, the Steller’s Jay is very similar to the Blue Jay. They are the only two types of jays with crests and with Blue Jays slowly moving west they have been known to interbreed creating a hybrid bird. Like the Blue Jay they are known for nest robbing. They can regularly be seen at feeders and enjoy peanuts and large seeds which they may store in a cache, saving up food for the winter months.
