Examples of birds that look like blue jays include belted kingfisher, black-throated blue warbler, blue grosbeak, blue-gray tanager, and California scrub-jay.
There are many different types of birds in the world, and although they all look unique, some of them can be mistaken for other types of birds. One example is the blue jay, which can be easily confused with the indigo bunting. Both species have a blue coloration, but there are some key differences that can help you tell them apart.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at birds that looks like blue jays and discuss some of the similarities and differences between them. We’ll also talk about how to identify each one of them.
Examples of Birds that Look Like Blue Jays
1. Belted Kingfisher
| Scientific Name | Megaceryle alcyon |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Mexico and Central America to northern Venezuela and Colombia |
This bird is similar to the blue jay in size and shape, but it has a bluish-gray coloration with a white chest and belly. It also has a black band across its stomach, which is where it gets its name. The beak on this bird is longer and more slender than the blue jay’s, and it has a black stripe running down the middle of its head.
2. Black-Throated Blue Warbler
| Scientific Name | Setophaga caerulescens |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | hilly and mountainous regions in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada |
The Black-throated blue warbler is a small songbird with a sleek appearance. It has a black throat and upper body, with blue wings and a white belly. The male bird has a more vibrant blue coloration than the female. This species can be found in woods and forests in the eastern United States.
3. Blue Grosbeak
| Scientific Name | Passerina caerulea |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Central America and breeding in northern Mexico and the southern United States |
The blue grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) is a medium-sized songbird with a body length of about 7-8 inches. The males have blue plumage, while the females are usually brown or gray. The blue grosbeak can be found in open woodlands and scrublands throughout North and South America.
4. Blue-Gray Tanager
| Scientific Name | Thraupis episcopus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Mexico south to northeast Bolivia and northern Brazil, all of the Amazon Basin, except the very south |
The blue-gray tanager is a small bird that is found in South America. It has a blue body with gray wings and a black tail. The blue-gray tanager is often mistaken for the blue jay, but it can be distinguished by its smaller size and different coloration.
5. California Scrub-Jay
| Scientific Name | Aphelocoma californica |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern British Columbia throughout California and western Nevada near Reno to the west of the Sierra Nevada |
The California scrub-jay is a type of bird that looks like a blue jay. It has a blue body with gray wings and a white belly. The head is also blue, and there is a white line that goes from the beak to the ear. This bird is found in the western United States, and it is smaller than the blue jay.
6. Canada Jay
| Scientific Name | Perisoreus canadensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | forest of the northern United States and Canada, as well as in high mountain ranges of the West |
The Canada Jay is a type of bird that looks similar to a blue jay. They are both blue, but the Canada Jay has a white chest and belly. The blue on the Canada Jay is also darker than the blue on the blue jay.
7. Cerulean Warbler
| Scientific Name | Setophaga cerulea |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | large tracts of older deciduous forests with tall trees |
This small songbird is found in North and South America, and it has a blue plumage with white underparts. The Cerulean Warbler also has a yellow throat and breast, which can be helpful in identifying it. One of the key differences between this bird and the blue jay is its size; the Cerulean Warbler is much smaller than the blue jay.
8. Eastern Bluebird
| Scientific Name | Sialia sialis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | across eastern North America and south as far as Nicaragua |
This species is found in eastern North America, and it has a blue coloration on its back, wings, and tail. The head and breast are usually a reddish-orange color, and the belly is white. The bill is dark and slightly curved.
The eastern bluebird is smaller than the blue jay, and it has a shorter tail. The wings are also less rounded. The bill is thinner and not as curved as the blue jays.
9. Florida Scrub-Jay
| Scientific Name | Aphelocoma coerulescens |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | semidesert scrub, chaparral, and open oak woodlands near the Pacific coast, and dry mountain canyons with pinyon pine and juniper forests in the Rockies |
The Florida scrub-jay is a small bird with blue and white plumage. It has a white chest and belly, and its wings are blue with white bars. The Florida scrub-jay is found in the southeastern United States, specifically in Florida.
10. Green Jay
| Scientific Name | Cyanocorax yncas |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern Texas |
The Green Jay is a beautiful bird that is native to South America. It has a green plumage with blue and yellow accents. The Green Jay is about the same size as the Blue Jay, but it has a shorter tail.
11. Indigo Bunting
| Scientific Name | Passerina cyanea |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | across the eastern half of the U.S |
The indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea) is a small songbird that is found in North America. It has a blue coloration on its back and wings and a white belly. The head is black with a white throat. Adult males have brighter blue coloration than females.
The indigo bunting is smaller than the blue jay, and it has a thinner beak. It also doesn’t have the crest that is found on the blue jay’s head.
12. Island Scrub Jay
| Scientific Name | Aphelocoma insularis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park |
The island scrub jay is a bird that looks like a blue jay and is found in the Channel Islands off the coast of California. These birds are slightly smaller than blue jays and have a more subdued coloration. They also have a shorter bill and tail.
13. Lazuli Bunting
| Scientific Name | Passerina amoena |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | mostly west of the 100th meridian from southern Canada to northern Texas, central New Mexico and Arizona, and southern California |
The Lazuli Bunting is a small songbird that is found in western North America. It is closely related to the blue jay and shares many of the same features, including the blue coloration.
However, there are some key differences that can help you tell them apart. For instance, the Lazuli Bunting has a white breast with orange streaks, while the blue jay has a solid blue breast. Additionally, the Lazuli Bunting has a white belly, while the blue jay’s belly is gray.
14. Mexican Jay
| Scientific Name | Aphelocoma wollweberi |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | western Texas, southeastern Arizona, and a bit of far southwestern New Mexico |
The Mexican jay is a type of bird that is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It has a blue coloration, but it also has a white belly and black wings. The Mexican jay is smaller than the blue jay, and it has a more slender body.
15. Mountain Bluebird
| Scientific Name | Sialia currucoides |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the high, open country across western North America, as far north as Alaska |
The mountain bluebird is a medium-sized songbird with a body length of about 6-7 inches. The males have bright blue plumage, while the females are more subdued in color. Both sexes have white on their underparts and wings. They have long, pointed tails and small beaks.
16. Pinyon Jay
| Scientific Name | Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | central Oregon to western South Dakota, south to northern Baja California, northwestern and east-central Arizona, central New Mexico, and western Oklahoma |
The Pinyon jay is a type of bird that looks very similar to the blue jay. They are both blue and have white stripes on their wings. However, there are some key differences between these two birds.
For one, the blue jay is smaller than the pinyon jay. It also has a black head with a white eyebrow, whereas the pinyon jay has a blue head with no white markings.
17. Red-Breasted Nuthatch
| Scientific Name | Sitta canadensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | coniferous woods and mountains |
The red-breasted nuthatch is a small bird that is commonly found in wooded areas. It has a blue-grey body with a white breast and belly. It also has a black head and a long, black bill. The red-breasted nuthatch is often mistaken for the blue jay because of its similar coloration.
18. Red-Legged Honeycreeper
| Scientific Name | Cyanerpes cyaneus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the tropical New World from southern Mexico south to Peru |
The red-legged honeycreeper is a small bird that is native to Central and South America. It has a blue body with white stripes on its wings. The bird also has a red leg, which is where it gets its name.
One of the key differences between the red-legged honeycreeper and the blue jay is the size. The honeycreeper is much smaller than the blue jay. Another difference is that the honeycreeper has a blue stripe on its wings, while the blue jay does not.
19. Steller’s Jay
| Scientific Name | Cyanocitta stelleri |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Pacific coast from southern California to Alaska |
The Steller’s Jay is a bird that can be found in western North America. It is most common in the mountains, but it can also be found in woodlands, forests, and even urban areas.
The Steller’s Jay is larger than the blue jay and has a longer tail. It also has a crest on its head that is longer than the blue jay’s crest. The Steller’s Jay is black, grey, and blue, with a black belly.
20. Western Bluebird
| Scientific Name | Sialia mexicana |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | open coniferous forests, farmlands, and steppe habitats, often eastern Washington |
These birds are found in western North America and they have a blue coloration on their backs and wings. The throat and belly are usually a lighter shade of blue, and the males often have a darker head than the females. Western bluebirds are smaller than blue jays, measuring about 6-7 inches in length. They also have a shorter tail and bill.
21. Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay
| Scientific Name | Aphelocoma woodhouseii |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | western North America, ranging from southeastern Oregon and southern Idaho to central Mexico |
The Woodhouse’s scrub-jay is a bird that looks very similar to the blue jay, but it has a slightly different coloration. The Woodhouse’s scrub-jay is native to the southwestern United States, and it has a greyish-blue body with a white belly.
The wings and tail are also blue, but they have white bars on them. The Woodhouse’s scrub jay is a little smaller than the blue jay, and it has a shorter tail.
Conclusion
Birds that are similar in appearance to blue jays can be found all over the world. While they may not all be as brightly colored as North America’s blue jay, these birds share some of the same physical features and habits.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.