13 Blue Birds in Ontario (with Pictures for Easy ID)

Ontario supports a diverse group of blue birds found across habitats ranging from Carolinian forests and Canadian Shield woodlands to wetlands, lakeshores, grasslands, farmland, and suburban neighborhoods. These include familiar species such as the “true” bluebirds of the genus Sialia, alongside jays, swallows, buntings, kingfishers, and colorful woodland warblers whose blue plumage ranges from vivid cerulean and deep indigo to soft blue-gray depending on lighting and viewing angle. This ID guide highlights the blue birds most likely to be encountered in Ontario and provides practical, field-based tips for distinguishing them across the province’s varied habitats and seasons.

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

• Identification: Large crested songbird with bright blue upperparts marked by bold black barring and white patches, a long tail, and a black collar across a pale grayish-white underside.
• Field recognition: Often detected by loud, varied calls or by flashes of blue and white in steady or undulating flight, and commonly seen at feeders or moving noisily through trees.
• Where found: Widespread year-round across most of southern Ontario and the southern Boreal Forest in deciduous, mixed, and coniferous woodlands, parks, towns, suburbs, and other landscapes with mature trees.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); common in Ontario, with a stable breeding population and evidence of recent northward range expansion.

The Blue Jay is the most familiar and easily recognized blue bird in Ontario, where its bright plumage, loud calls, and adaptability make it one of the province’s most conspicuous birds. It measures 25 to 30 centimeters (9.8 to 11.8 inches) in length and has a large, sturdy body, a prominent crest, broad rounded wings, and a fairly long tail. The upperparts are vivid blue with strong black barring on the wings and tail and bright white patches that create a bold, high-contrast pattern. The underparts are pale grayish white, set off by a distinctive black U-shaped collar across the upper breast and sides of the neck.

Blue Jays are often noticed first by their loud, far-carrying calls, which include harsh, ringing notes and a wide range of whistles and other sounds. Birds frequently move through trees with quick hops and short flights, flashing bright blue, black, and white as they shift between branches or cross open spaces. Their flight is typically steady with shallow wingbeats, sometimes undulating. At feeders or while foraging, they are conspicuous and active, holding seeds or nuts in their feet and pecking them open or carrying food away to cache elsewhere. They feed on insects, nuts such as acorns, seeds, fruits, and occasionally small animals, and are especially associated with deciduous and mixed woodlands containing oaks.

The Blue Jay is a common resident across southern Ontario, extending north through the southern Boreal Forest to about Sioux Lookout and Kapuskasing, with breeding records reaching the Red Lake area and a slight recent northward expansion into parts of the Northern Shield. It is most abundant in the Carolinian, Lake Simcoe-Rideau, and Southern Shield regions, including older urban areas such as Toronto, Hamilton, Kingston, and Ottawa, while becoming much less common across the conifer-dominated Northern Shield and nearly absent from the Hudson Bay Lowlands. Some birds migrate, with northbound movements across Lake Superior into southern Ontario in spring, but many remain year-round. Breeding Bird Survey data indicate an overall stable breeding population, while broader Canadian monitoring shows long-term increases, particularly across southern Ontario.

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with vivid blue upperparts in males, a rusty to brick-red throat and breast, and a white lower belly; females are grayer above with blue in the wings and tail and a paler orange-brown breast.
• Field recognition: Often seen perched upright on wires, fence posts, or nest boxes in open country, then dropping to the ground for prey while giving a soft “tu-a-wee” call.
• Where found: Widespread during summer across Ontario except the Hudson Bay Lowlands, found in open habitats with scattered trees, including grasslands, orchards, forest edges, and other areas with nest cavities or nest boxes.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations have increased substantially in Ontario following nest-box conservation efforts and are now considered stable overall.

The Eastern Bluebird is Ontario’s only regularly breeding “true” bluebird and is a cherished sign of spring, often seen perched on roadside wires, fence posts, or nest boxes in open country. The species measures 16 to 21 centimeters (6.3 to 8.3 inches) in length and has a rounded head, large eye, plump body, short straight bill, and fairly short tail. Adult males are vivid deep blue above, with a rich rusty to brick-red throat, breast, and flanks, and a white lower belly and undertail area. Females are much duller, with blue-gray upperparts washed brown across the back, bluish wings and tail, and a softer orange-brown breast.

Eastern Bluebirds are most often identified by their upright posture and characteristic sit-and-wait feeding behavior. They typically perch erect on wires, fence posts, low branches, or nest boxes while scanning the ground before dropping down to capture insects and other prey, then returning to a perch. This behavior makes them especially easy to watch in grasslands, pastures, orchards, and open fields. Males often appear brilliantly blue in good light, though the blue can look muted or gray-brown at a distance. Their most common call is a soft, low-pitched “tu-a-wee,” often given in flight or as a contact call. They feed mainly on insects and other small arthropods during the breeding season and also take small fruits and berries, especially in fall and winter.

The Eastern Bluebird breeds across Ontario everywhere except the Hudson Bay Lowlands, with particularly high densities in southern Ontario and localized concentrations in areas with well-managed nest box trails. The species also occurs across the Southern and Northern Shield, extending north to the Red Lake area with scattered records near Sachigo Lake, although breeding densities are much lower where suitable open habitat is scarce. Small numbers remain through winter in southern Ontario, but most birds migrate south. Ontario populations have increased markedly since the late 1970s, aided by warmer winters and extensive nest-box programs, and Breeding Bird Survey data documented a strong long-term increase before populations stabilized at higher levels.

Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

• Identification: Small songbird with glossy blue-green upperparts and clean white underparts, a short slightly notched tail, and long pointed wings; females duller with browner tones above.
• Field recognition: Most often seen in fast, acrobatic flight over fields or water, flashing blue above and white below while catching insects, often in loose flocks.
• Where found: Widespread during summer throughout Ontario in open habitats near water, including marshes, lakeshores, fields, shorelines, and wooded wetlands where natural cavities or nest boxes are available.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); still common across much of Ontario but undergoing a significant long-term population decline.

The Tree Swallow is Ontario’s widespread blue-and-white swallow, a familiar sight over wetlands, farmland, and lakeshores, where its iridescent upperparts flash in the sunlight. It measures 12 to 15 centimeters (4.7 to 5.9 inches) in length and has a streamlined body with long, pointed wings, a short slightly notched tail, and a small, flat bill. Adult males are glossy blue-green to steely blue above with clean white underparts, creating a sharp contrast in flight. Females are more variable, with duller, browner upperparts or a muted blue-green sheen. The bright upperparts of males can appear especially vivid in direct sunlight, shifting between blue and green tones.

Tree Swallows are almost always detected in flight, where they spend much of their time catching flying insects with quick, agile turns and graceful glides over open ground and water. They commonly forage above marshes, ponds, fields, and shorelines, often in loose groups where insects are abundant. Birds occasionally perch on wires, shrubs, or nest boxes but rarely remain on the ground. Their flight is fluid and buoyant, with more gliding than many other swallows, and they give soft, chirping calls and chatter-like notes while flying or interacting near nest sites. During the non-breeding season, they may form large flocks and feed on berries in addition to insects.

The Tree Swallow breeds across nearly all of Ontario, with breeding confirmed throughout southern Ontario and extending north to the edge of the treeline. It is most abundant in the Carolinian and Lake Simcoe-Rideau regions, while populations become more localized across the Shield, where birds are closely associated with wetlands, and are less common in the Hudson Bay Lowlands because nesting cavities are scarce. The species arrives in Ontario during April and readily uses nest boxes as well as natural cavities. Despite remaining widespread, atlas data document a marked decline, particularly across the Southern and Northern Shield, and Breeding Bird Survey results indicate a significant long-term decrease that mirrors broader declines among aerial insectivores across Canada.

Indigo Bunting

Passerina cyanea

• Identification: Small, stocky songbird with a short conical bill; breeding males are deep blue all over, sometimes richer on the head; females are brown with only faint blue in the wings or tail.
• Field recognition: Often detected by the male singing from exposed perches such as treetops, shrubs, or wires, with flashes of bright blue in good light.
• Where found: Occurs during summer across southern Ontario and locally farther north in brushy edges, hedgerows, old fields, roadsides, shrubby clearings, and other open habitats with scattered trees and shrubs.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); common across southern Ontario, with localized regional declines linked to the loss of early-successional habitat.

The Indigo Bunting is Ontario’s only completely blue bird, and breeding males are unmistakable as vivid blue silhouettes perched along roadsides, hedgerows, and woodland edges. This species measures 12 to 14 centimeters (4.7 to 5.5 inches) in length and has a compact, sparrow-like build with a short tail and a thick, conical bill. Adult males in breeding plumage are entirely deep blue, sometimes with a slightly purplish tone on the head, creating a smooth, saturated appearance without strong patterning. Females are plain brown with faint streaking on the breast and only subtle blue in the wings or tail.

Indigo Buntings are most often identified by the singing male, which regularly chooses exposed perches such as treetops, shrubs, roadside wires, and fence lines overlooking open habitat. The male delivers a rapid series of paired, metallic notes while remaining conspicuously perched, making the brilliant blue plumage especially easy to see in direct sunlight. Birds move between perches with direct flight and often flick or swish the tail while perched. They forage lower in vegetation or on the ground, feeding on seeds, insects, and berries among grasses, shrubs, and low tree branches.

The Indigo Bunting breeds widely across southern Ontario, where it is most common in the Carolinian and Lake Simcoe-Rideau regions, and continues north through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest to around Algonquin Provincial Park, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and the Kenora-Fort Frances area. Farther north, it occurs locally in suitable deciduous habitats, with scattered breeding records extending to Hearst and Sioux Lookout. It favors shrubby edge habitats, including hedgerows, old fields, regenerating clearcuts, forest clearings, roadsides, and utility corridors. Although the provincial distribution has remained broadly stable, atlas data indicate declines in the Carolinian and Lake Simcoe-Rideau regions, likely reflecting the loss of hedgerows and other early-successional habitats associated with agricultural intensification.

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with glossy blue upperparts, warm rufous underparts, a cinnamon forehead and throat, and a long, deeply forked tail with elongated outer streamers.
• Field recognition: Usually seen flying low over fields or water in smooth, direct flight with quick turns, the long forked tail and contrasting blue and rufous tones visible in motion.
• Where found: Widespread during summer across most of Ontario in open habitats such as farmland, fields, wetlands, and human settlements, nesting on buildings, bridges, barns, and other structures.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); considered a species of Special Concern in Ontario; still widespread but experiencing a substantial long-term population decline.

The Barn Swallow is one of the most familiar blue-toned birds in Ontario and is a common sight sweeping over farmland, wetlands, and rural roads during the breeding season. It measures 17 to 19 centimeters (6.7 to 7.5 inches) in length and has a streamlined body with long, pointed wings and a deeply forked tail with elongated outer feathers. The upperparts are glossy steel-blue, contrasting with a cinnamon to rufous forehead and throat and buffy to tawny underparts. A blue breast band separates the throat from the belly, though it may be reduced in some birds. Males and females are similar, but males typically have longer tail streamers and slightly richer coloration.

Barn Swallows are most often seen in continuous flight, foraging for flying insects at low to moderate heights over open ground or water. Their flight is smooth and direct, with frequent subtle course adjustments and occasional sharp turns enabled by the deeply forked tail. Birds often feed singly or in pairs, sometimes circling above fields, wetlands, livestock, or ponds where insects are abundant. They may briefly perch on wires or buildings near feeding areas but spend much of the day airborne. Their vocalizations include a rapid, twittering song that often ends with a harsh rattle, along with repeated chirping contact calls given in flight and around nest sites.

The Barn Swallow breeds across most of Ontario but is most abundant south of the Canadian Shield, particularly in the Carolinian and Lake Simcoe-Rideau regions, where agricultural landscapes and human structures provide ideal nesting habitat. It becomes much less common across the Southern Shield and Boreal Forest, occurring mainly around farms, settlements, and major transportation corridors such as the Trans-Canada Highway, and is absent from much of the forested landscape north of 50th parallel. The species nests almost exclusively on human-made structures, including barns, bridges, and other buildings. Despite remaining widespread, atlas data document a pronounced long-term decline, with especially large losses across the Shield regions, reflecting the broader decline of aerial insectivores and likely linked to reduced insect abundance.

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

• Identification: Large-headed bird with a shaggy crest and thick pointed bill; blue-gray above with white underparts and a blue breast band; females show an additional rusty band.
• Field recognition: Often seen perched over water or flying along shorelines with a loud rattling call, showing a stocky shape and flashes of blue-gray and white.
• Where found: Widespread across Ontario, mainly during summer, near rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, and other clear freshwater habitats with suitable earthen nesting banks; a few birds remain through winter where open water persists.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); widespread in Ontario but undergoing a gradual long-term decline.

The Belted Kingfisher is a familiar waterside bird across Ontario and, although not typically considered a blue bird, often appears distinctly blue-gray in good light. The species measures 28 to 35 centimeters (11.0 to 13.8 inches) in length and has a stocky body, a large head with a shaggy crest, and a heavy, straight bill. The upperparts are powdery blue-gray, contrasting with white underparts and a bold blue breast band; females add a second rusty band across the lower breast. The overall coloration can appear bright blue or dull gray depending on the lighting, but the combination of the large head, crest, and bold pattern is unmistakable.

Belted Kingfishers are usually detected by their behavior and voice. Birds perch alone on branches, wires, or other elevated perches overlooking water, scanning for prey before plunging headfirst into the surface. They may also hover briefly before diving. Their flight is strong and direct, with steady wingbeats and short glides, often following rivers and shorelines at low height. The loud, mechanical rattling call is frequently heard before the bird is seen and is given in flight or when disturbed. After catching a fish, individuals typically return to a perch and beat the prey against it before swallowing it headfirst.

The Belted Kingfisher breeds widely across Ontario wherever clear rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and suitable nesting banks occur. It is especially abundant along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, the shorelines of Lakes Ontario and Huron, Georgian Bay, the North Channel, and the lake-rich Kenora region, while becoming less common in intensively farmed parts of southwestern Ontario, the Niagara Peninsula, and portions of southeastern Ontario. Most birds migrate south for winter, although a small number remain where open water persists. Ontario atlas and Breeding Bird Survey data document a long-term decline across much of the province, likely related to the loss of suitable nesting banks and changes affecting water quality and aquatic habitats.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga caerulescens

• Identification: Small songbird with a pointed bill; males are deep blue above with a black face and throat and white underparts; females are grayish olive with a pale eyebrow and a distinctive small white wing patch.
• Field recognition: Often found low in forest understory, moving through shrubs and lower branches, with the white wing patch visible even in quick views.
• Where found: Occurs primarily on the Canadian Shield during summer in mature deciduous and mixed forests with dense shrub layers, with smaller populations in southern Ontario’s larger forested landscapes.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); relatively common in suitable Ontario breeding habitat, with populations and breeding range increasing in recent decades.

The Black-throated Blue Warbler is one of Ontario’s most striking blue warblers, with breeding males standing out as deep blue birds moving through the shaded understory of mature forests. It measures 11 to 13 centimeters (4.3 to 5.1 inches) in length and has a plump body, a short tail, and a sharp bill. Adult males are deep midnight blue above with a striking black face, throat, and flanks, sharply contrasting with clean white underparts and a bold white wing patch. Females are much duller, appearing grayish olive overall with a pale eyebrow and a smaller white wing patch that remains one of the most reliable identification features. Both sexes show this distinctive white patch, often described as a small square or “handkerchief” on the wing.

Black-throated Blue Warblers are typically located by movement in the lower to mid-levels of forest vegetation. They forage actively among shrubs and lower canopy branches, often picking insects from the undersides of leaves while moving with quick hops and short flights through dense understory. Males frequently sing from within their territories, delivering a buzzy, patterned song and sometimes responding aggressively to intruding males. Unlike many warblers that spend most of their time high in the canopy, this species often remains at eye level or only slightly above, making it easier to observe. The white wing patch is often the first feature noticed, especially on females, even when the rest of the plumage appears subdued.

In Ontario, the Black-throated Blue Warbler breeds mainly across the Canadian Shield, where it is most abundant in mature deciduous and mixed forests around Algonquin Provincial Park, the Algoma Highlands, and the Temagami-Lake Timiskaming region. Smaller breeding populations occur in the Lake Simcoe-Rideau region and parts of the Carolinian region, including the Norfolk Sand Plain and as far south as Rondeau Provincial Park, reflecting a continuing recolonization of southern Ontario’s maturing forests. The species favors large forest tracts with a well-developed shrub layer and has expanded both its breeding distribution and abundance in Ontario over recent decades, with atlas and Breeding Bird Survey data documenting significant long-term increases.

Purple Martin

Progne subis

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with long, pointed wings and a short forked tail; males are glossy blue-black overall; females are grayish below with a pale belly and darker upperparts.
• Field recognition: Usually seen flying high in open air with steady flapping and gliding, often around nest colonies or in loose flocks, and sometimes feeding lower near dusk.
• Where found: Occurs locally across southern Ontario during summer, especially near the Great Lakes, large rivers, and other open areas with nesting colonies in artificial martin houses.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); locally common near established colonies but undergoing a substantial long-term decline in Ontario.

The Purple Martin is the largest swallow in Ontario and the darkest blue member of the swallow family, with adult males often appearing deep purple-blue in bright sunlight. The species measures 19 to 20 centimeters (7.5 to 7.9 inches) in length and has a broad chest, long pointed wings, a short forked tail, and a stout, slightly hooked bill. Adult males are entirely glossy blue-black and are the only North American swallow with a uniformly dark underside. Females and younger birds are much paler, with grayish to brownish upperparts, a lighter belly, and a noticeable contrast between the darker chest and whitish lower underparts.

Purple Martins are most often detected in flight, where they travel with strong, steady wingbeats interspersed with glides, often at greater heights than other swallows. They feed almost entirely on flying insects caught in midair and may range widely from their nesting sites, making them easiest to observe around breeding colonies. Birds frequently circle above open fields, lakeshores, wetlands, rivers, and towns, and may gather in loose groups or larger flocks later in the breeding season. In Ontario, they nest almost exclusively in martin houses and other artificial structures, where they perch around entrance holes and vocalize frequently. During cool weather or late in the day, they often forage lower over land or water.

The Purple Martin now breeds mainly across southern Ontario, where it remains closely associated with the Great Lakes, the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers, Lake Simcoe, the Kawartha Lakes, and other large bodies of water. Strongholds include the Niagara Peninsula, Chatham-Kent, Essex and Lambton counties, Prince Edward County, and major shoreline areas, while inland and northern breeding populations have declined sharply, with the range retracting southward since the first Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. Despite remaining locally common around well-established nesting colonies, Ontario populations have undergone a pronounced long-term decline, particularly away from major lakeshores, and regional monitoring indicates one of the steepest population decreases in Canada.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

• Identification: Very small songbird with a thin bill and very long tail; pale blue-gray above with white underparts, a bold white eye-ring, and a black-and-white tail; males show a black forehead in the breeding season.
• Field recognition: Constantly active in outer foliage, flicking and fanning its long tail while giving thin, nasal calls and making short, fluttering flights.
• Where found: Occurs locally during summer across southern Ontario in deciduous woodlands, especially open-canopied floodplain and swamp forests, woodland edges, and other broad-leaved habitats.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); uncommon but increasing in Ontario, with a breeding range that has expanded northward in recent decades.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is Ontario’s smallest blue-toned bird and is often overlooked until its restless movements reveal flashes of pale blue-gray and white among the foliage. It measures 10 to 12 centimeters (3.9 to 4.7 inches) in length and has a slender body, a fine pointed bill, and a very long tail that makes up nearly half of its total length. The plumage is soft blue-gray above with clean white underparts and a distinct white eye-ring that stands out on the face. The tail is black with white edges and is frequently spread or flicked, revealing bold white flashes. During the breeding season, males show a narrow black line across the forehead, while females lack this marking.

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are best identified by their behavior. They move rapidly through the outer parts of trees and shrubs, hopping and sidling along twigs while searching for insects and spiders. Frequent tail flicking and fanning draws attention to the bold white edges of the tail, while short, fluttering flights between branches give the bird a mothlike appearance. Their vocalizations include thin, nasal calls and a soft, rambling song of mixed notes that is often heard before the bird is seen. Although the species often forages high in the canopy, its constant motion usually makes it easier to detect than its small size might suggest.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher breeds locally across southern Ontario, where it is most numerous in the Carolinian region, particularly along the north shore of Lake Erie. Additional breeding concentrations occur near Grand Bend, along the Lake Ontario shoreline, and on the Frontenac Axis, with scattered records extending north to Manitoulin Island. It favors deciduous woodlands, especially open-canopied floodplain and swamp forests near water, as well as woodland edges. Since the mid-20th century, the species has expanded its breeding range markedly across southern Ontario, and atlas data document continued increases in both distribution and abundance, consistent with broader long-term population growth across eastern Canada.

Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga cerulea

• Identification: Small songbird with long, pointed wings and a short tail; males are cerulean blue above with white underparts and a dark breast band; females are bluish green above with a pale yellowish wash below and a distinct pale eyebrow.
• Field recognition: Typically seen high in the canopy, moving along branch tips and giving a buzzy, rising song, with flashes of blue and white in short flights.
• Where found: Occurs locally in southern Ontario during summer in mature deciduous forests with tall trees, especially large forest tracts on the Frontenac Axis and other scattered southern sites.
• Conservation status: Near Threatened (IUCN); considered Threatened in Ontario, with a declining provincial population.

The Cerulean Warbler is one of the most sought-after blue warblers, but its preference for the upper canopy means it is more often heard than seen. The species measures 11 to 12 centimeters (4.3 to 4.7 inches) in length and has a compact body, relatively long pointed wings, and a short tail. Adult males are vivid cerulean blue above with white underparts and a variable dark band across the upper breast, along with streaking on the back and sides. Females are much duller, appearing bluish green above with a pale yellowish wash on the underparts and a noticeable pale line over the eye. Both sexes show two white wingbars and white tail spots, although these are often difficult to see from the forest floor.

Cerulean Warblers are usually found high in the forest canopy, often moving actively along slender twigs and leaf clusters near canopy gaps. They forage primarily by gleaning insects from leaves along the outer portions of branches and are frequently located by the male’s distinctive buzzy, rising song rather than by sight. Short flights between branches may reveal flashes of white in the wings and tail, but prolonged views are often difficult because the birds remain high above the ground. Large deciduous trees, especially prominent canopy oaks and hickories, frequently serve as singing perches during the breeding season.

In Ontario, the Cerulean Warbler breeds only locally in southern parts of the province, where its strongest population occurs on the Frontenac Axis north of Kingston. Smaller breeding concentrations persist in Norfolk County north of Long Point, along the boundary between the Southern Shield and Lake Simcoe-Rideau regions as far west as Georgian Bay, and at a few scattered sites including Pinery Provincial Park, Awenda Provincial Park, and Skunk’s Misery. The species inhabits mature deciduous forests with tall, uneven canopies and a sparse understory, often in large forest tracts. Ontario atlas and monitoring data indicate a continuing long-term decline, and the province now supports most of Canada’s remaining breeding population of this species.

Blue Grosbeak

Passerina caerulea

• Identification: Small, stocky songbird with a large triangular bill; males deep purplish-blue with two chestnut wingbars; females mostly warm brown with faint blue in the wings and tail.
• Field recognition: Often detected by a rich, warbling song from exposed perches in shrubby habitats, or by a heavy-bodied blue bird with a large bill.
• Where found: Occurs irregularly in southern Ontario, most often found in open, shrubby habitats, hedgerows, old fields, and agricultural edges during migration.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); a rare visitor in Ontario with no confirmed breeding records.

The Blue Grosbeak is one of North America’s richest blue songbirds, but in Ontario it is an uncommon visitor that is seen only by a fortunate few. It measures 15 to 16 centimeters (5.9 to 6.3 inches) in length and has a stocky body with a very large, triangular bill. Adult males are deep purplish blue overall, with darker wings and tail and two distinct chestnut to cinnamon wingbars that contrast with the blue body. The face shows a darker area around the lores, and the bill is two-toned with a dark upper mandible and a pale lower mandible. Females are mostly warm brown with subtle blue tones in the wings and tail and similar wingbars.

Blue Grosbeaks are often overlooked despite their striking color because they spend much of their time within shrubby vegetation. Males frequently sing from exposed perches such as small trees, wires, or tall shrubs, delivering a rich, warbling song that carries across open habitats. Birds move through vegetation with short flights or hops and may forage both on the ground and among low plants, taking insects, seeds, and other small food items. Their flight is typically low and direct over short distances, with longer flights showing an undulating pattern. A sharp metallic “tink” or buzzy note may also be heard during movement or when disturbed.

The Blue Grosbeak is a rare and irregular visitor in Ontario, appearing most often in the extreme southern part of the province during spring overshoot migration from late April through early June. Most records involve males in breeding plumage, although occasional birds, including females and young males, have remained into summer. Sightings are reported almost annually, but breeding has never been confirmed despite a few birds lingering through the nesting season. The species is therefore regarded as a rare visitor rather than a breeding bird in Ontario.

Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with vivid sky-blue males showing blue across the head, back, and breast with a paler belly; females are mostly gray-brown with blue in the wings and tail and a pale blue rump.
• Field recognition: Often seen perched in open country or hovering briefly before dropping to the ground for prey, with a soft, mellow “vee-er” call sometimes given in flight.
• Where found: Occurs irregularly in Ontario, primarily in open habitats such as fields, grasslands, farmland, and other open country, most often during migration and in winter.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); a rare non-breeding visitor in Ontario with only a few historical breeding attempts and no established breeding population.

The Mountain Bluebird is the brightest member of the genus Sialia of “true” bluebirds, but in Ontario it is seen only rarely as a visitor from the west. The species measures 16 to 20 centimeters (6.3 to 7.9 inches) in length and has a slender, long-winged build with a relatively long tail. Adult males are bright cerulean to sky blue across the upperparts, head, and throat, with the blue extending onto the chest before fading to a paler blue and then white on the lower belly and undertail. Females are much duller, with grayish-brown upperparts and a noticeable light blue wash on the wings, tail, and rump; some also show faint buffy tones across the chest.

Mountain Bluebirds are typically found in open landscapes, where they perch conspicuously on fence posts, wires, shrubs, or isolated trees. They often hunt by watching the ground from a perch before dropping onto prey or hovering briefly above the ground prior to descending. Their flight is light and somewhat fluttering, with occasional undulating movements, and birds may walk rather than hop while foraging on the ground. The most frequently heard vocalization is a soft, mellow “vee-er” call, often given in flight or as a contact note. During the breeding season, the species feeds mainly on ground-dwelling insects and other invertebrates, while berries become more important outside the breeding season.

The Mountain Bluebird is a rare visitor in Ontario, with records occurring almost annually, most often during spring migration but also regularly in late fall and winter. It has bred in the province only on three documented occasions, each involving a male Mountain Bluebird paired with a female Eastern Bluebird, and no established breeding population has developed. The species’ regular breeding range extends east only to south-central Manitoba, making Ontario records noteworthy occurrences well beyond its normal range.

Lazuli Bunting

Passerina amoena

• Identification: Small songbird with a conical bill and slightly notched tail; males show bright blue upperparts with an orange-cinnamon breast and white belly; females are mostly grayish brown with faint blue in the wings and tail.
• Field recognition: Often seen perched upright on exposed shrubs or low trees in open brushy habitats, with males singing persistently and flashing blue and white patches in short, direct flights.
• Where found: Occurs irregularly in Ontario, mainly in spring in open brushy habitats, fields, hedgerows, and other semi-open landscapes.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); an exceptionally rare vagrant in Ontario with no breeding records.

The Lazuli Bunting is one of the most striking blue songbirds on the continent, but in Ontario it is an exceptionally rare visitor that appears only occasionally. It measures 13 to 15 centimeters (5.1 to 5.9 inches) in length and has a compact, stocky body, a short conical bill, and a slightly notched tail. Adult males in breeding plumage are bright blue across the head, nape, back, and rump, set off by a warm cinnamon to pumpkin-colored band across the upper breast and flanks and a clean white belly. The wings and tail are darker with blue edging, and two bold white wingbars create a noticeable pattern. Females and non-breeding birds are much duller overall, appearing grayish brown with a faint blue tint on the wings and tail, pale wingbars, and a soft cinnamon wash across the breast.

Lazuli Buntings are often detected by males singing from exposed perches on shrubs or small trees. The song is a quick, jumbled series of notes, and singing birds frequently remain in view, making identification easier than might be expected for such a rarity. Birds move by hopping along branches or on the ground, foraging low in vegetation and among grasses and weeds for insects, seeds, and small fruits. At feeders, they may be attracted to small seeds such as millet. Their flight is fairly direct, with rapid wingbeats and flashes of blue and white visible as they move between perches.

The Lazuli Bunting is a rare and highly irregular visitor in Ontario, where most records occur during spring, particularly in May, when wandering birds occasionally appear well east of the species’ normal western breeding range. Both males and females have been recorded in the province, typically in open, shrubby habitats and other semi-open landscapes. Although the species is known for occasional long-distance wanderings, it has never been confirmed breeding in Ontario and remains one of the province’s rarest blue vagrants.

Identifying Blue Birds in Ontario

Ontario’s blue birds range from familiar backyard favorites like Blue Jays and Eastern Bluebirds to secretive forest warblers, graceful swallows, and a handful of exceptional western vagrants. When identifying them, pay attention not only to the shade and extent of blue plumage but also to habitat, behavior, season, and location. Whether you’re exploring a Carolinian woodland, watching swallows over a marsh, or scanning hedgerows during spring migration, these clues will help you separate Ontario’s blue birds with confidence.

For a broader perspective, explore our guide to blue birds across North America, and visit the Birds of Ontario and Birds of Canada pages for additional regional and national bird guides.