Florida is one of the best places for migratory birds. The Sunshine State saw more than 500 bird species throughout the year which makes it one of the best birding locations in North America. The primary reason is the geographic location and suitable tropical climate, here is the list of 10 blue birds in Florida,
Blue Birds in Florida
1. Florida Scrub Jay
The Florida Scrub Jay is a species of scrub jay native to North America. The body range between 23 to 28 cm in length and the average weight is between 66 to 92 gms. The total wingspan of Florida Scrub Jay is between 33 to 36 cm. The avarage lifespan of bird species is between 4 to 15 years in the wild and captivity. The dietary habits of Florida Scrub Jay are omnivores and it primarily feeds on acorns, seeds, peanuts, insects, tree frogs, turtles, snakes, lizards, and young mice.
Image Source: Wikimedia
2. Blue-Headed Vireo
The Blue-headed vireo is a songbird mostly seen in North and Central America. The other obsolete English names such as solitary vireo, blue-headed greenlet, plumbeous greenlet, Plumbeous Vireo, and Cassin’s Vireo. It can grow upto a length of 5.5 inches and a wingspan is upto 9.5 inches. The. primary diet includes Caterpillars, and insects and eating fruits during migration and in the winter. The avarage lifespan of Blue-Headed Vireo is unknown, however, the oldest known recorded species is approximately 7 years and 5 months old.
Image Source: Wikimedia
3. Painted Bunting
The painted bunting is one of the beautiful blue birds in Florida that belongs to the cardinal family, Cardinalidae. The bird species is native to North America. Both male and female species look similar during the first year, however, from the second year male species develop a bright plumage. The dietary habits of Painted Bunting are herbivores in the winter season and carnivores during the breeding season. It feeds on seeds, insects, caterpillars, beetle larvae, spiders, grasshoppers, and snails. The average lifespan of painted bunting is upto 12 years in the wild the body ranges between 12 to 14 cm in length and the average weight is 13 to 19 gms. It is also listed as one of the most beautiful green and yellow birds in the world.
4. Common Gallinule
The Common Gallinule is a black bird species in Florida that belong to the family Rallidae and loves to breed in the regions around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals, and other wetlands in the Americas. They have long toes that help them to walk on soft mud and floating vegetation. The body ranges between 12.6 to 13.8 inches in length and the average weight is between 10.9 to 16.1 oz. The total wingspan of the Common Gallinule is between 21.3 to 24.4 inches. The average lifespan of the bird species is upto 11 years in the wild.
5. Great Blue Heron
The great blue heron is a long-legged bird whose scientific name is Ardea herodias which belongs to the heron family Ardeidae. Talking about appearance, the bird species is a tall and statuesque bird that is very graceful when flying with its slow deep wing beats. The dietary habits are carnivores and specifically piscivores in nature and feed on fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards, young birds, small mammals, crabs, shrimp, crayfish, dragonflies, and grasshoppers, as well as many aquatic invertebrates. The population of the great blue heron is abundant and widespread and is not subjected to any major threats.
6. Tree Swallow
Tree Swallow is one of the blue and white birds that spend most of the time flying in the air or resting on high perches. The bird species prey on insects, berries, and seeds. The natural predators of tree swallow birds include snakes, raccoons, weasels, cats, chipmunks, falcons, hawks, owls, and magpies. The female species lay down eggs sequentially, such as one per day until all of them have been laid. This will help the mother to prioritize older chicks in times of food scarcity. The avarage lifespan of a tree swallow is between 2.7 years to 12 years in the wild. It is also listed as one of the most amazing black and blue birds in the world.
Also Read: 16 Most Beautiful Blue Colored Birds
7. Little Blue Heron
The little blue heron is one of the fantastic blue birds in Florida that belong to the family Ardeidae. The body ranges between 63 to 74 cm and the average weight is between 296 to 412 gms. The avarice lifespan of a little blue heron is upto 14 years in the wild. The scientific name is Egretta caerulea and the total wingspan is between 95 to 105 cm. The juvenile blue heron is entirely white and resembles the snowy egret hence it is listed as one of the types of white birds in Florida. During the breeding season, the adult species develop different coloration on the head, legs, and feet.
Image Source: Wikimedia
8. Blue Jay
Blue Jay is a blue colored bird that belongs to the family of crows. They are mostly seen in the regions of Central and Eastern parts of North America and South Canada. The major threats to the birds of North Carolina are the collision with man-made structures, diseases (such as West Nile Virus), and predation (domestic cats). The body ranges between 9 to 12 inches in length and are wieght is between 2.5 to 3.5 ounces where male species are heavier than females. The avarice lifespan of 7 years in the wild and up to 26 years in captivity.
9. Belted Kingfisher
The Belted Kingfisher is one of the water diving birds whose scientific name is Megaceryle Alcyon is a water kingfisher native to North America. It preys on fish, crustaceans, lizards, and small mammals. It is one of the few birds to nest on the ground and where they excavate a tunnel into a sandy bank. The female belted kingfisher is more colorful markings than the males. During mating season, the Belted Kingfisher will become quite territorial and there are few cases where they even dive at humans. The avarage lifespan of belted kingfisher is between 6 to 14 years in the wild. The body length ranges between 28 to 35 cm and the average weight is between 113 to 178 gms.
10. Common Grackle
The common grackle is a large icterid that is mainly seen in the regions of North America. The bird species was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus along with its three subspecies. The adult species of common grackle can be identified with the help of a long and dark bill along with pale yellow eyes and a long tail. The top speed of the bird species during the flight is upto 48 kilometers per hour and the wingspan is between 36 to 46 cm. The body ranges between 28 to 34 cm and the average weight is between 74 to 142 gms. The garage lifespan of common grackle is upto 22 years.
11. Indigo Bunting
Indigo Bunting is one of the black and blue birds in the world which is mostly active during the day basically for food on the ground or in trees or shrubs. During the winter season, they mostly feed in flocks with other Indigo birds, however, they are solitary feeders during the breeding season. The mode of communication among birds is mostly through vocalizations and visual cues. The male species of indigo bunting sings a complex song which he sings while perched on elevated objects, such as posts, wires, and bush-tops.
12. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is one of the small grey birds with white bellies who mostly prefer to breed in the regions of deciduous woods and shrublands in southern Ontario, the eastern and southwestern United States, and Mexico. The next is in cone shape placed on the tree branch, and share feeding the young. The incubation period is for 13 days for both male and female species and two broods may be raised in a season. The oldest known Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in the wild was 4 years and 2 months old. The primary diet includes small insects and spiders.
Image Source: Doug Greenberg
13. Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler is one of the beautiful blue colored birds and it is sexually dimorphic where the adult male has a black face and cheeks along with deep blue upperparts and white underparts. These bird species are migratory they prefer temperate mature deciduous forests or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests with a thick understory. The breeding season starts in May and ends in July. The male species attracts female species by singing a soft melody. It is also listed as one of the blue and white birds in the world.
14. Northern Parula
The northern parole is one of the blue birds in Florida which breeds in eastern North America from southern Canada to Florida. The body length is upto 11 cm and the average weight is upto 9 grams. The migratory bird species prefers winters in southern Florida, northern Central America, the West Indies, and most of the Lesser Antilles and very rare vagrant to western Europe. Though it is considered a monogamous species, however, few cases of polygamy have been reported. The incubation period lasts between 12 to 14 days and the young fledge at 10 to 11 days.
Image Source: Wikimedia
15. Eastern Bluebird
The eastern bluebird is the state bird of New York and Missouri. The scientific name is Sialia sialis and the body length is upto 7 inches. They prefer to sit on the branches of the tree and patiently watch the ground below and as soon as they will spot a beetle they go with bright blue wings and gobbles up the small insect. They are mostly seen in the eastern parts of North and Central America from southern Canada into the country of Nicaragua. The primary diet includes beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and caterpillars.
16. Blue Grosbeak
The blue grosbeak is a North American passerine bird that belongs to the family Cardinalidae. Talking about the appearance, the male species is blue with two brown wing bars, however, the female species is mainly brown along with blue feathers on the upper parts and two brown wing bars. These social birds are mostly seen in flocks to feed before migrations. The bird species is mostly active during the day spending most of their time foraging. There are no major threats to the Blue grosbeak at present.
These are the 16 different types of blue birds in Florida. Kindly share and post your comments.
