Discover 11 Blue Birds in New York

Written by Niccoy Walker
Updated: March 22, 2023
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When people think of New York, they think of New York City, where the streets are crowded, and buildings reach the sky. But New York has more than just city life. In fact, 61% of New York State is forested. From its many natural areas and miles of coastline, the state has the perfect habitats for birds. Discover 11 blue birds in New York and learn about their range, migration, diet, and appearance.

Eastern Bluebird

Happiest Animals: Bluebird

The eastern bluebird is a permanent resident in New York. They inhabit pastures, fields, parks, and suburban yards.

©Bonnie Taylor Barry/Shutterstock.com

Range and Habitat: The eastern bluebird is a permanent resident in New York and throughout the Southeast. These birds prefer open areas near trees, and they are common around pastures, fields, parks, and backyards.

Migration: Much of the population lives year-round in the Southern United States and Mexico. But those that breed further north migrate south for winter.

Size and Color: They are smaller than a robin, and males are bright blue and white below with red breasts.

Diet: They eat crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, worms, spiders, snails, lizards, frogs, and berries.

Feeder Food: Mealworms will attract this species.

Blue Jay

Blue Jay on Eastern Redbud, side view

Blue jays lives all year in New York. You can spot them in parks, suburbs, gardens, and groves. Most populations are permanent in their range.

©Tom Reichner/Shutterstock.com

Range and Habitat: The blue jay lives all year in the eastern United States, including New York. They like oak and beech trees and inhabit many wooded habitats, such as parks, suburbs, gardens, and groves.

Migration: Most populations are permanent in their range, but some may move further west during winter.

Size and Color: They are similar in size to a scrub jay and feature sky blue, deep blue, gray, white, and black plumage.

Diet: They consume nuts, seeds, berries, grains, fruits, insects, spiders, snails, and bird eggs.

Feeder Food: Peanuts, suet, and sunflower seeds are their favorite snacks.

Tree Swallow

Tree swallow isolated on white background

The tree swallow is a breeding bird in New York. They place their nests in semi-open areas near water, like ponds and marshes.

©Feng Yu/Shutterstock.com

Range and Habitat: Tree swallows are breeding birds of New York in open and semi-open areas. They nest close to water, like ponds and marshes. You may also find them near meadows and brush.

Migration: They breed across Canada and the Northern United States, migrate through the central United States, and winter in Mexico and Central America.

Size and Color: These birds are smaller than purple martins and have bluish-green and white plumage with brownish-black wings and tails.

Diet: They prefer flying insects, spiders, sand fleas, berries, and seeds.

Feeder Food: Eggshells and berries attract these birds.

Barn Swallow

A Barn Swallow sits on a clump of clay and holds in its beak a straw found for the construction of a nest.

Barn swallows spend their springs and summers in New York near farms, fields, towns, ponds, and buildings.

©PavlovaSvetlana/Shutterstock.com

Range and Habitat: The barn swallow is another breeding bird of New York. During spring and summer, look for them around farms, fields, towns, ponds, and buildings.

Migration: They breed across most of Canada and the United States and winter in Southern Mexico and Central America.

Size and Color: These birds are a little smaller than a bluebird, and they feature dark blue and cinnamon plumage. 

Diet: Flying insects, spiders, snails, berries, and seeds make up their diet.

Feeder Food: Lure them to your yard with seeds, suet, and eggshells.

Indigo Bunting

A brilliant blue male, left Fram, and a dull brown female, right frame, pair of indigo buntings, perched facing each other, on a leafless limb, in natural setting. Birds are a bit puffy, which would imply that he weather is cool or cold.

Indigo buntings breed in New York, placing their nests along roadsides and woodland edges.

©Bonnie Taylor Barry/Shutterstock.com

Range and Habitat: You will see indigo buntings in New York in spring and summer during the breeding season. They place their nests along roadsides and woodland edges.

Migration: They breed in the eastern and Southwest United States and winter in Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America.

Size and Color: These birds are about the size of a sparrow. They are blue all over with darker heads and silver bills.

Diet: They prefer spiders, insects, seeds, and berries.

Feeder Food: Thistle, nyger, and mealworms will draw them to your backyard.

Cerulean Warbler

cerulean warbler

The cerulean warbler is a small, compact bird occasionally found in New York during the breeding season.

©iStock.com/ps50ace

Range and Habitat: Cerulean warblers are uncommon breeders in New York. The best place to find these birds is to look in hardwoods along streams.

Migration: They breed in the northeast and migrate through the southeast, Mexico, and Central America. They winter in Northern South America.

Size and Color: They are small and compact and feature sky blue, white, and black plumage.

Diet: They like flies, beetles, caterpillars, and plant material.

Feeder Food: These birds are not known for visiting feeders.

White-Breasted Nuthatch

The white-breasted nuthatch typically lives year-round in the United States, but some populations may move south in irruptive movements.

©Brian Lasenby/Shutterstock.com

Range and Habitat: White-breasted nuthatches are permanent residents in New York throughout the state. They prefer mature deciduous forests, especially near edges and along rivers.

Migration: They typically live year-round in most regions of the United States, but some populations may move south in irruptive movements.

Size and Color: The white-breasted nuthatch is larger than the red-breasted species. Their coloring consists of bluish-gray, black, and white.

Diet: Insects and seeds make up their diet.

Feeder Food: Suet and peanut butter are their favorite treats.

Little Blue Heron

Beautiful hues of plumage in Little Blue Heron portrait

The little blue heron lives along the coast in marshes and swamps. They breed in New York, but live in the Southeast year-round.

©iStock.com/Florence and Joseph McGinn

Range and Habitat: Little blue herons breed in New York in inland freshwater wetlands, such as river swamps and marsh lakes.

Migration: Populations around the southeastern coast live there year-round. Those that breed further north and west migrate to Central America for winter. There are also permanent residents in South America.

Size and Color: The little blue heron is about the same size as a snowy egret. Up close you can see they are dark bluish-gray and maroon. Their coloring may be difficult to decipher from a distance.

Diet: Their diet contains a variety of foods, including fish, crustaceans, frogs, lizards, snakes, spiders, and turtles.

Feeder Food: This species does not eat feeder food.

Black-Throated Blue Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler, Blue, Grand Bend, Ontario - Canada, Warbler

Black-throated blue warblers migrate through the state, stopping in forested and shrubby areas.

©iStock.com/BrianLasenby

Range and Habitat: Black-throated blue warblers are common migrants through New York. During migration, they stop in forested and shrubby areas.

Migration: They breed in Southeast Canada and the Northeastern United States, migrate through the southeast, and winter in the West Indies and Central America.

Size and Color: They are small and well-proportioned, featuring midnight blue, white, and black plumage.

Diet: They consume caterpillars, moths, spiders, seeds, berries, flower nectar, and small fruits.

Feeder Food: They do not typically visit bird feeders but may stop at bird baths.

Purple Martin

Birds that eat bees: Purple Martin

The purple martin is an acrobatic hunter, capable of catching bees while in full dive. They breed in New York, living in semi-open areas near water.

©iStock.com/Jeff Huth

Range and Habitat: The purple martin breeds in New York and they are not picky about where they place their nests. They prefer any semi-open area near water.

Migration: They breed across the Eastern United States, migrate through Mexico and Central America, and winter in Central South America.

Size and Color: Larger than a tree swallow, the purple martin is dark bluish-purple and brown-black.

Diet: Flying insects and spiders make up the bulk of their diet.

Feeder Food: They are attracted to crushed eggshells.

Belted Kingfisher

Belted kingfisher

Belted kingfishers are year-round residents in New York and throughout most of the United States.

©Harry Collins Photography/Shutterstock.com

Range and Habitat: Belted kingfishers live year-round in New York and found many water habitats, such as streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes.

Migration: Most populations in the United States live there all year, but those that breed in Canada will migrate to the Southwest, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

Size and Color: These birds are smaller than crows and they have bluish-gray, white, and chestnut feathers.

Diet: Small fish, amphibians, and aquatic insects are their favorite foods.

Feeder Food: They do not visit feeders but may stop by ponds.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Harry Collins Photography/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Niccoy is a professional writer for A-Z Animals, and her primary focus is on birds, travel, and interesting facts of all kinds. Niccoy has been writing and researching about travel, nature, wildlife, and business for several years and holds a business degree from Metropolitan State University in Denver. A resident of Florida, Niccoy enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, and spending time at the beach.

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Sources
  1. Department of Environmental Conservation, Available here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/309.html#:~:text=New%20York%20state%20is%2061,managed%20for%20wood%20or%20pulp