13 Blue Birds in Texas (with Pictures and ID Guide)

Texas hosts an appealing variety of blue birds, from common residents like the blue jay and eastern bluebird to seasonal visitors such as the blue grosbeak, purple martin, and mountain bluebird. In the state’s far western ranges, species like Steller’s jay, western bluebird, and Woodhouse’s scrub-jays add to the spectrum of blue.

This guide presents the blue and blue-toned birds most likely to be seen in Texas, from widespread residents to summer breeders, migrants, and localized mountain species. Each entry highlights the features that make these birds recognizable in the field – plumage, posture, and behavior, along with notes on habitat, seasonality, and where in Texas each species is most often found.

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

• Identification: Large crested songbird with blue upperparts, bold wing and tail patterning, a black collar, and pale grayish white underparts.
• Where found: Common year-round across eastern and central Texas in woodlands, towns, parks, and forest edges.
• How to spot: Look for its steady or undulating flight, frequent noisy calls, bold crest, and active foraging in trees, shrubs, and feeders.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); in Texas the population appears stable to slightly increasing.

The blue jay is one of the most familiar blue birds in Texas, instantly recognized by its bright blue upperparts, bold facial pattern, and prominent crest. It is a medium-sized jay measuring 25 to 30 centimeters (9.8 to 11.8 inches) in length, with broad, rounded wings and a long, patterned tail. Adults of both sexes share the same vivid plumage, showing black barring on the wings and tail, a distinct black collar, and pale grayish white underparts. Juveniles resemble adults but show duller blues and browner blacks. Their striking plumage and loud presence make them one of the most noticeable blue birds throughout the eastern half of the state.

Blue jays are conspicuous in behavior as well as appearance. They move through trees with rapid hopping, short walks, and frequent “bouncing” motions, often shifting direction as they work along branches. Their flight varies from direct, steady wingbeats to more undulating patterns, and they often glide with the wings extended and tail fanned when approaching a perch. They are highly vocal: harsh jeer calls, musical whistles, rattling clicks, and soft clucks form a vast repertoire, and they frequently mimic hawks. Jays often call from within trees, but resident birds may fly silently across open spaces, especially during migration. Their foraging behavior is equally distinctive – gleaning food from branches, hawking insects, opening nuts with their feet, or carrying acorns to cache elsewhere.

In Texas, blue jays are common residents across the Piney Woods, Post Oak Savannah, Blackland Prairies, northern Coastal Prairies, and eastern Edwards Plateau, with scattered breeding records into the Panhandle. They are largely absent from the Trans-Pecos except as rare winter visitors. Birds remain year-round in most of their Texas range, though local movements occur in response to mast availability, and migrants from farther north may pass through in variable numbers. They use woodlands, mixed forests, riparian corridors, towns, parks, and residential areas with mature trees, especially oaks. Regional trends suggest a generally stable to slightly increasing population in Texas, supported by their adaptability to suburban habitats.

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

• Identification: Medium-sized swallow with steel-blue upperparts, rufous forehead and throat, and a long, deeply forked tail.
• Where found: Widespread breeder across Texas in open and semi-open habitats with nearby human-made structures for nesting.
• How to spot: Watch for fast, fluid, highly maneuverable flight close to the ground or water, long tail streamers, and birds gathering mud near puddles and buildings.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); in Texas the species is increasing and now breeds across most of the state.

The barn swallow is the most distinctive blue-toned swallow in Texas, easily recognized by its glossy steel-blue upperparts, rufous forehead and throat, and long, deeply forked tail. It is a medium-sized hirundinid measuring 17 to 19 centimeters (6.7 to 7.5 inches) in length, with males showing especially elongated outer tail feathers. Females appear slightly less glossy with shorter streamers, and juveniles are duller with paler rufous areas and shorter tails. When perched, the species shows a sleek, tapered silhouette with pointed wings and a tail that extends well beyond the wingtips.

Barn swallows are energetic, agile fliers, spending almost all of their foraging time on the wing. Their flight consists of rapid, fluid wingbeats interspersed with bursts of straight, purposeful travel and sharp turns made possible by their long tail streamers. They typically feed low over fields, pastures, ponds, and farmyards, often only a few inches above the ground or water, and they regularly perch on wires near feeding sites. Birds frequently visit the ground to collect mud and grass for nest construction. Vocalizations include a variety of high, sharp notes, soft chirps, whines, and an extended twittering warble that ends in a rattling trill.

In Texas, the barn swallow now breeds almost statewide and is especially common wherever human-made structures provide protected ledges or beams for nesting. It arrives by early spring and begins nesting from late March through mid-August, taking advantage of a long warm season across the state. Nests are often placed under bridges, inside culverts, or beneath building eaves, and birds routinely circle their nest sites throughout construction and when feeding young. The species favors open habitats such as fields, meadows, riparian corridors, and roadside areas. Texas populations have expanded markedly in recent decades, aided by widespread infrastructure that offers abundant nesting opportunities.

Purple Martin

Progne subis

• Identification: Large swallow with long pointed wings, short forked tail, glossy blue-purple males, and brownish-gray females with paler underparts.
• Where found: Breeds widely across Texas except the far west, favoring open areas near human-made nesting structures.
• How to spot: Look for fast, mixed flapping and gliding flight high in the air or low near colonies, and birds calling and perching around martin houses.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); in Texas the species is stable and expanding westward where housing is available.

The purple martin is the largest swallow in North America and one of Texas’s most recognizable blue-toned aerial insectivores. It measures 19 to 20 centimeters (7.5 to 7.9 inches) in length, with long, tapered wings and a short, moderately forked tail. Adult males are entirely glossy blue-black, making them the only dark-bellied swallow in the region. Females and yearling males are brownish above with pale underparts and a contrasting darker collar around the nape, and young females tend to appear paler overall. The species’ broad chest and sturdy shape give it a distinctive silhouette compared to smaller swallows.

Purple martins spend nearly all of their time in flight, moving with a rapid, fluid mix of flapping and short glides. Their flight is powerful but less acrobatic than that of smaller swallows, and they often forage higher in the air, sometimes hundreds of meters above the ground. Around colonies they descend to lower heights, circling open areas, perching on wires, or visiting the ground briefly for nesting material. Their calls include a variety of chirps, buzzes, and chortling notes given during social interactions, and adults are especially vocal when near nest sites. Martins often gather in large flocks near dusk and can be conspicuous when feeding low over ponds, pastures, and open spaces during periods of cool or unsettled weather.

In Texas, purple martins breed across most of the state except the Trans-Pecos, with the greatest abundance in the eastern half. East of the Great Plains they nest almost exclusively in human-provided housing placed in open areas near homes, parks, and other maintained spaces. Spring arrival begins as early as mid-January to early February in South Texas and continues northward into late March. Nesting typically begins in early to mid-spring depending on arrival timing, and birds remain conspicuous around colonies until late summer. The species favors open landscapes near water and human activity, and continued placement of martin houses has facilitated a westward expansion into new regions of Texas. Local threats include competition for nest sites from non-native species and short-term weather events that reduce insect availability, but overall the state’s population remains stable.

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

• Identification: Small thrush with rich blue upperparts and warm orange throat and breast in males, and blue-gray females with paler orange underparts.
• Where found: Year-round across eastern and central Texas, especially in open habitats with scattered trees and nest boxes.
• How to spot: Look for upright perching on wires or posts and short flights to the ground for insects, accompanied by soft, musical calls.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); in Texas the species is stable to increasing and widely supported by nest-box programs.

The eastern bluebird is one of Texas’s most recognizable small blue birds, noted for the male’s vivid royal-blue upperparts and warm orange breast. It measures 16 to 21 centimeters (6.3 to 8.3 inches) in length and has a compact, thrush-like build with a short, straight bill and alert posture. Females appear blue-gray above with bluish wings and tail and paler orange underparts, while juveniles are heavily spotted and browner overall, with young males showing hints of blue in the wings and tail. At all ages, the species shows a clean white lower belly and undertail coverts that contrast with the warmer breast.

Eastern bluebirds are active but deliberate in their movements, frequently perching upright on wires, posts, and low branches as they scan the ground for prey. They hunt mainly by dropping from a perch onto insects in open ground, returning quickly to the same lookout. Flight is typically low and direct across open areas, and birds often forage or perch in small family groups outside the breeding season. Their vocal repertoire includes soft, musical warbles and short, low-pitched calls used to keep contact among mates or family members, especially late in the nesting season.

In Texas, eastern bluebirds occur year-round, with breeding concentrated in the eastern half of the state – from the Piney Woods and Post Oak Savannah to the Blackland Prairies, Coastal Prairies, and eastern Rolling Plains. They breed from mid-February to late July and are most common in open country with scattered trees, such as pastures, meadows, orchards, golf courses, and edge habitats. Birds readily use nest boxes and old woodpecker holes, and nest-box programs have helped maintain strong populations across the region. Western Texas holds mainly migrants and wintering birds, but overall the species remains stable to increasing in Texas and is considered secure for the foreseeable future.

Indigo Bunting

Passerina cyanea

• Identification: Small, sparrow-sized songbird with males rich blue overall in breeding season and females plain brown with faint streaking and buff wing bars.
• Where found: Summer resident across the eastern half of Texas, most common in the Piney Woods and adjacent regions, favoring woodland edges and brushy openings.
• How to spot: Listen for the male’s paired-note, bouncy song from exposed perches and watch for short flights into low vegetation to forage.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); in Texas the species is generally stable and common in suitable edge and shrubby habitats.

The indigo bunting is one of Texas’s most striking blue birds, with breeding males appearing rich, saturated blue in good light and slightly purplish on the head. It is a small, stocky songbird measuring 12 to 13 centimeters (4.7 to 5.1 inches) in length, with a short conical bill and short tail. Females and juveniles are brown with buff wing bars and a pale breast, sometimes showing just a hint of blue in the wings or tail. First-year males are variable, ranging from patchy brown and blue to nearly adult-like but duller than full adult males. At all ages, the species maintains the compact, sparrow-like proportions typical of buntings.

Indigo buntings are active and vocal, especially during the breeding season when males sing persistently from prominent perches such as treetops, shrubs, and utility lines. Their song is a distinctive series of paired, bright notes delivered at a steady pace, often repeated for long periods. Foraging birds move through low shrubs, grasses, and small trees, hopping among stems or dropping to the ground to take seeds and small insects. In flight they appear short-tailed and plump, with a direct, fluttering style. During migration and on wintering grounds, they form large flocks, but in Texas during the breeding season they are mostly solitary or paired.

In Texas, indigo buntings are common to locally abundant summer residents in the eastern half of the state, especially in the Piney Woods, Post Oak Savannah, and parts of the Rolling Plains and Edwards Plateau. Spring migrants arrive mostly from late March through May, with breeding from April to late July. The species favors woodland edges, clearings, shrubby fields, and riparian corridors, often near water. In the Trans-Pecos, breeding occurs primarily in riparian habitats. Southbound migration begins by mid-July and peaks from August through early November, and a few individuals winter in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Despite long-term declines elsewhere, indigo bunting populations in Texas appear relatively stable where suitable brushy and edge habitats persist.

Blue Grosbeak

Passerina caerulea

• Identification: Large, stocky bunting with males deep purplish blue and chestnut wingbars, and females warm brown with subtle bluish tones and two brown wingbars.
• Where found: Widespread summer resident across most of Texas in shrubby fields, overgrown edges, riparian thickets, and open country with scattered trees.
• How to spot: Listen for the male’s rich, warbling song from high, exposed perches and watch for low, swift flights between thickets or the species’ distinctive metallic “chink” call.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); in Texas populations appear broadly stable, with local variation but no strong long-term decline.

The blue grosbeak is one of Texas’s most vivid blue songbirds, with breeding males showing deep, purplish blue plumage offset by two chestnut wingbars and a large, two-toned bill. It is a large bunting, measuring 15 to 16 centimeters (5.9 to 6.3 inches) in length, with a thick, triangular bill that gives the head a bulky, rounded appearance. Females are warm cinnamon-brown with hints of blue on the upperparts and a bluish tail; subadult males show a mix of brown and blue in varying patterns. From a distance, males appear uniformly dark blue with warm wingbars and a small dark mask around the lores.

Blue grosbeaks can be secretive in dense cover, but males become conspicuous during the breeding season when they sing persistently from treetops, tall shrubs, and roadside wires. Their song is a long, rich warble – fluid and varied, without the paired notes of an indigo bunting. They give metallic “tink” or “chink” calls and sometimes a buzzy “bzzt.” Their flight between shrubs is low and swift, while longer flights are undulating. On the ground they may appear awkward, hopping heavily as they forage, but in trees they move with more agility, occasionally “sidling” along branches. Tail flicks or sideways twitches are common when perched. Foraging behavior is varied, including gleaning insects, hover-gleaning from foliage, dropping to the ground for seeds or prey, and occasionally fly-catching.

In Texas, blue grosbeaks are widespread summer residents, breeding across most of the state from the Piney Woods and Post Oak Savannah west through the Edwards Plateau, Rolling Plains, and into the Trans-Pecos. They arrive primarily from early April through mid-May and depart mostly from late August through mid-October. Preferred habitats include shrubby fields, overgrown pastures, hedgerows, vine tangles, riparian corridors with willows or cottonwoods, and brushy woodland edges. They often occupy regenerating old fields and other early-successional habitats. Migrants are common statewide, and a few individuals winter rarely along the lower Rio Grande. Long-term survey data indicate generally stable numbers in Texas, with only small year-to-year fluctuations across regions.

Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

• Identification: Medium-sized swallow with steely blue-green upperparts in adult males, white underparts, and a short, squared tail; females and juveniles are browner above with variable dullness.
• Where found: Primarily a migrant and winter visitor in Texas, with rare and irregular breeding records in the northeast and central portions of the state near open wetlands and nest boxes.
• How to spot: Look for fast, graceful aerial foraging over water or fields, frequent gliding, and perched birds on wires or nest boxes accompanied by sweet, chirping calls.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); regional populations stable to declining overall, with Texas occurrences tied largely to migration and limited breeding opportunities.

The tree swallow is a striking blue-and-white aerial insectivore that is seen most often in Texas during migration and winter. The species measures 12 to 15 centimeters (4.7 to 5.9 inches) in length, with streamlined proportions, long pointed wings, and a tiny, flat bill. Adult males are steely iridescent blue above and white below, with sooty gray wings and a short, squared or slightly notched tail. Females vary widely in plumage: young females remain dull brown above, while older females approach the male’s iridescence but typically appear slightly greener and less glossy. Juveniles are entirely sooty gray above with white underparts and may show a faint dusky wash across the breast.

Tree swallows spend much of their time in flight and are highly skilled aerialists, capturing insects with sharp twists, turns, and extended glides. They glide more often than many other swallows, especially in calm conditions. Perched birds often sit on wires, fence lines, or nest boxes, sometimes sidestepping along the perch. Their calls are soft, sweet chirps and chatters, frequently given while foraging or interacting near nest sites. Alarm calls can trigger circling by nearby birds. During migration and winter, tree swallows may form enormous roosting flocks that swirl overhead in dense, shifting clouds before dropping into marsh vegetation at dusk.

In Texas, tree swallows are primarily migrants and winter visitors, occurring widely over wetlands, open fields, reservoirs, and coastal marshes from fall through early spring. A small number winter in the southern and southeastern parts of the state. Breeding in Texas is rare and irregular: confirmed nestings have occurred mainly in the northeast (Rains and Wood counties) and historically in south-central Texas, with an additional likely nesting in west-central Menard County. Nesting occurs in cavities or nest boxes placed near water or in open meadows, and breeding birds often circle nest sites persistently. Migrants appear statewide, especially around lakes, rivers, and coastal wetlands. Regional population trends indicate declines across parts of North America, but in Texas the species remains a regular migrant and wintering swallow with very limited breeding presence.

Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

• Identification: Small, stocky thrush with males deep cobalt-blue above and rusty-chestnut across the breast, and females gray-brown with bluish wings and tail and a pale orange wash on the breast.
• Where found: Localized in far western Texas, primarily in the Guadalupe and Davis Mountains, in forested canyons, open woodlands, and high-elevation slopes.
• How to spot: Look for birds perched on low branches, fenceposts, or nest boxes, making short, swooping flights to the ground for insects and giving soft “kew” or quiet chatter calls.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); in Texas the species is uncommon and localized, with small resident populations and regional declines noted elsewhere.

The western bluebird is one of the few blue-and-rust thrushes found in Texas, occurring mainly in the high, wooded landscapes of the Trans-Pecos. Males are vividly colored with cobalt-blue head, back, wings, and tail, and a warm chestnut breast that sometimes extends onto the upper back. Underparts are grayish to blue-gray. Females are substantially duller, with gray-brown upperparts, gray throat, a pale orange breast wash, and blue highlights in the wings and tail. The species measures 16 to 19 centimeters (6.3 to 7.5 inches) in length and retains similar plumage year-round. First-year birds resemble adults but appear slightly duller, while juveniles are brownish and heavily streaked with white on the breast.

Western bluebirds forage from low perches and often sit upright on stumps, small branches, and fenceposts, dropping to the ground to snatch insects before returning to the perch. Their movements on the ground consist of short hops for only a few seconds at a time, and on perches they pivot and sidle much like eastern bluebirds. Their flight is typically low and direct with slow wingbeats. Vocalizations include soft “kew” or “few” calls frequently given in flight, harsher “che-check” notes, and a quiet cut-cut chatter during territorial encounters. Male song varies but commonly combines repeated call notes into simple, melodic phrases, heard most often during the dawn chorus in the breeding season.

In Texas, western bluebirds are local residents in the Guadalupe and Davis Mountains, where they inhabit forested canyons, pinyon-juniper woodlands, ponderosa pine slopes, and mixed conifer-oak habitats at higher elevations. Nesting occurs in natural cavities, old woodpecker holes, crevices in dead trees, and nest boxes, often near open foraging areas such as woodland edges or grassy clearings. The species is an irruptive winter visitor in parts of the Trans-Pecos from late October to mid-March, though it becomes increasingly rare farther east. Migrants move through western Texas in fall and spring, with spring movements generally occurring in April and fall arrivals beginning in October. Western bluebird populations in Texas remain small and localized, and while long-term continental trends show declines in some regions, the species persists as a scarce but regular breeder in the state’s montane west.

Lazuli Bunting

Passerina amoena

• Identification: Small, stocky bunting with breeding males bright blue above, pumpkin-colored across the breast, white below, and females gray-brown with blue-tinged wings and tail and two pale wingbars.
• Where found: Very rare breeder and uncommon migrant in Texas, mainly in the Panhandle, Trans-Pecos, and South Plains in brushy habitats, thickets, and streamside vegetation.
• How to spot: Listen for the male’s fast, jumbled territorial song from exposed perches in shrubs and search weedy fields or low vegetation for birds hopping among stems or flycatching nearby.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations broadly stable across the West, with Texas occurrences limited by geography and suitable breeding habitat.

The lazuli bunting is one of the West’s most striking blue songbirds, and in Texas it appears primarily during migration, with only rare and local breeding in the Panhandle. Breeding males show brilliant lapis-blue on the head, nape, back, and rump, a bright cinnamon breast band, and white underparts, with two crisp white wingbars that stand out in all lighting. Females are much plainer – gray-brown above with subtle bluish tinges in the wings and tail, two light wingbars, and a pale cinnamon or tan breast. Juveniles are mottled blue and tan above with a pumpkin-colored breast. The species measures 13 to 15 centimeters (5.1 to 5.9 inches) in length and has a stout, conical bill and slightly notched tail.

Lazuli buntings are active, vocal birds during the breeding season. Males sing from tall shrubs, low trees, or fence lines, delivering a fast, jumbled, two-second song built from repeated syllables. They hop through low vegetation to glean seeds or insects, and both sexes flycatch by making short, erratic flights from perches, usually only a few meters into the air. Their calls include sharp chips, soft “tseep” notes during courtship, and a buzzy “cheet” during disputes or disturbance. Foraging occurs from the ground up through low shrubs, and outside the breeding season buntings often feed in weedy fields, weighing down grass stems as they remove seeds.

In Texas, the lazuli bunting is a very rare breeding species with isolated records in the Panhandle and possibly in the south-central Hill Country. Most sightings occur during migration, when birds pass through the Trans-Pecos, Panhandle, and South Plains from mid-April to late June, and again from early August through late October, with peak movements in April-May and before mid-September. Migrants use brushy hillsides, thickets, weedy fields, riparian vegetation, and hedgerows along agricultural areas. Breeding habitat elsewhere consists of brushy slopes, wooded valleys, and streamside thickets, but in Texas suitable breeding sites appear extremely limited. Winter records in the state are rare. Regional and continental survey data indicate that the species’ overall population is stable, and Texas will likely continue to host migrants and occasional breeders where appropriate habitats persist.

Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

• Identification: Medium-sized, crestless jay with dull blue upperparts, brownish back, whitish underparts, a pale supercilium, and a narrow blue breast band.
• Where found: Year-round resident in western, northwestern, and central Texas, especially the Edwards Plateau, Trans-Pecos mountains, and Panhandle canyons in oak, juniper, and pinyon-juniper woodlands.
• How to spot: Watch for a long-tailed blue-gray jay moving through shrubs and low trees, giving raspy scolds, sharp weep calls, and slow, undulating flight between perches.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); in Texas the species is stable to increasing in some regions, with ongoing eastward and northward expansions noted over recent decades.

The Woodhouse’s scrub-jay is the common blue-and-gray jay of arid woodlands in western and central Texas, distinguished from the darker, crested blue jay by its slender build, crestless head, and muted colors. Adults measure 28 to 30 centimeters (11.0 to 11.8 inches) in length and show dull blue upperparts, a brown-tinged back, grayish belly, whitish throat, and a partial blue breast band. The face pattern includes dusky ear coverts and a pale whitish eyebrow. Juveniles lack most of the blue seen in adults and are overall brownish, with only faint traces of a supercilium and reduced throat patterning. Plumage varies geographically, with birds on the Edwards Plateau generally darker blue with a narrower necklace and heavier bill.

Woodhouse’s scrub-jays are assertive and vocal. They hop through shrubs and low trees, gleaning insects, tearing apart leaf clusters, or foraging on the ground for seeds, nuts, or fruit. Their flight is a mix of rapid wingbeats and short glides, producing an undulating path between perches. They frequently perch high in trees, posts, or wires as lookouts. Calls include loud raspy scolds, sharp “weep” notes, lower, scratchier territorial calls, and softer contact calls exchanged within pairs. During chases, flight becomes more direct and continuous. Jays often cache nuts and seeds, are known for opportunistic food theft, and occasionally forage by picking parasites from large mammals such as mule deer – an example of the clever, adaptable behavior typical of intelligent bird species.

In Texas, Woodhouse’s scrub-jay is a year-round resident primarily in the Edwards Plateau, Trans-Pecos mountains, and Panhandle canyons along the Caprock Escarpment. The species expanded eastward across the Plateau during the mid-twentieth century and northward into the Panhandle beginning around the 1950s. It breeds in thickets of oak and juniper, mixed oak-pinyon-juniper woodlands, and canyons with scattered pines. Breeding occurs mainly from early March through June, though fledglings may appear into July. Outside core habitats, individuals are occasionally seen as non-breeding wanderers, especially in fall and winter. The species tends to avoid heavily urbanized oak stands in the presence of blue jays but uses semi-open woodlands, pastures with junipers, riparian corridors, and even gardens at the edges of its range. Regional trends suggest generally stable numbers in Texas, with continued local expansion where suitable brushy and woodland habitats persist.

Mexican Jay

Aphelocoma wollweberi

• Identification: Medium-sized, crestless jay with grayish blue upperparts, off-white underparts, and a gray-brown back, with juveniles duller and darker overall.
• Where found: Year-round resident in the Chisos Mountains and adjacent canyons of the western Trans-Pecos, inhabiting pine-oak-juniper woodlands.
• How to spot: Watch for cohesive, noisy flocks moving through trees and along slopes, giving far-carrying nasal calls and foraging low in vegetation or on the ground.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); in Texas the population is localized but stable within its limited Trans-Pecos range.

The Mexican jay is a distinctively soft-blue and gray jay of pine-oak-juniper woodlands, and in Texas it is notable for being found almost exclusively in the Chisos Mountains and nearby rugged canyons. It is a medium-sized, crestless jay measuring 29 to 33 centimeters (11.4 to 13.0 inches) in length, with a long tail, heavy bill, and robust body. Adults are grayish blue above with dingy, off-white underparts and a gray-brown back; only newly fledged juveniles appear brownish overall with darker gray tones. The bill is typically entirely dark in Texas birds, unlike paler-billed populations farther west and south.

Mexican jays are active, vocal, and strongly social. They travel in cohesive groups that hop and glide through woodland slopes, communicating with far-carrying, nasal “weenk” or harsh call notes. Their flight is undulating, with several strong wingbeats followed by a short glide. Foraging birds move through the understory and onto the ground, thrashing leaf litter, probing bark crevices, or lifting debris to uncover insects, lizards, acorns, and pine nuts. They frequently search pine-oak canopies for caterpillars and other arthropods during spring and summer. These jays also cache acorns for later use, and group members maintain constant contact with quiet guttural notes as they forage.

In Texas, Mexican jays are year-round residents restricted to the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park and nearby areas such as the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area. They occupy pine-oak-juniper woodlands along mountain slopes, canyons, and ridges. Breeding typically occurs from early spring into summer, with nests built in pinyon, oak, or pine trees. Unlike their large cooperative breeding groups farther south and west, Texas populations generally contain only one breeding pair per territory, although several adults may assist with feeding young. The species appears stable within its limited Texas range, with habitat loss in Mexico representing a broader regional concern.

Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides

• Identification: Slender, long-winged bluebird; males rich sky to cobalt blue above and paler blue below, females gray-brown with pale blue in wings and tail and a white belly.
• Where found: Mostly a winter visitor in Texas, especially across the Panhandle, west-central regions, and the Trans-Pecos in open grasslands and shrublands.
• How to spot: Watch for hovering foraging flights, long-winged silhouettes on exposed perches, and soft, low calls given in series.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations generally stable range-wide, with Texas occurrences tied to seasonal movements rather than local trends.

The mountain bluebird is the most uniformly blue of North America’s bluebirds and a striking winter presence in the open landscapes of western Texas. It is a medium-sized, slender thrush measuring 16 to 20 centimeters (6.3 to 7.9 inches) in length, with long wings, a relatively long tail, and a thin, straight bill. Adult males show rich cerulean to cobalt blue upperparts, bright blue on the throat and upper chest that fades to paler blue on the breast, and white on the lower belly and undertail coverts. Females are mostly grayish brown to ashy gray above with pale cerulean to light methyl blue on the rump, primaries, and tail, a white belly, and subtle pale edging on the wing coverts. Juveniles resemble females but are duller overall and show white spotting on the breast and flanks.

Mountain bluebirds are active, lightly built birds that rely heavily on aerial and perch-based foraging. Unlike most thrushes, they frequently hover over open ground before dropping onto prey, and at times resemble small kestrels when they pause midair on rapidly beating wings. In flight they can show a fluttering or undulating pattern, and traveling birds may fly high above ground. On perches – fence posts, bare branches, power lines, they sit upright while scanning for insects before making quick sallies. Their vocal repertoire includes soft, mellow “vee-er” notes, low trills, short “tew” and “chup” calls, and a quiet, variable song often composed of descending, musical warbles. Winter flocks can be noisy with repeated call combinations, especially when birds feed together on berries.

In Texas, mountain bluebirds occur primarily as winter visitors from roughly October through early spring. They are most frequently found across the Panhandle, the western Rolling Plains, and the Trans-Pecos, including grasslands, open prairies, pastures, sagebrush flats, and lightly wooded foothills. Sightings in far southern or central Texas are uncommon but regular in some winters, and small flocks may wander widely in response to weather and berry availability. The species does not regularly breed in the state, with only one confirmed nesting record. Mountain bluebirds favor open areas with scattered perches and often forage near short or sparse vegetation where prey is easy to spot. While threats in Texas primarily relate to habitat availability during winter, their overall population remains stable, supported by healthy breeding conditions in western North America.

Steller’s Jay

Cyanocitta stelleri

• Identification: Large, long-crested jay with a dark charcoal to black head and rich blue wings and body, showing subtle geographic variation across its range.
• Where found: Permanent resident in the high-elevation evergreen forests of the Davis and Guadalupe Mountains of far western Texas, with occasional wanderers elsewhere in the region.
• How to spot: Listen for harsh scolding calls in evergreen canopy and watch for bold, inquisitive birds moving with strong hops or slow, deliberate wingbeats between trees and campgrounds.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); stable to slightly declining range-wide, and Texas populations appear steady within their limited mountain habitats.

The Steller’s jay is the signature crested jay of western evergreen forests and a distinctive, dark blue rarity within Texas. It is a large, robust songbird measuring approximately 30 to 34 centimeters (11.8 to 13.4 inches) in length, with a powerful bill, rounded wings, and a long, full tail. Adults in Texas show a charcoal to black head, a tall black crest, with fine white streaking on the forehead, and a similarly dark back. The body shifts to deep greenish blue across the breast and rich blue on the wings and tail. Females resemble males but may show slightly fainter barring on the wings and tail. Juveniles are sooty gray overall, with shorter crests and indistinct pale markings. Across its widespread range the species varies greatly in head color, crest length, and shade of blue, and the birds found in Texas belong to the dark-headed, black-crested forms that occur through much of the western United States.

Steller’s jays are bold, intelligent, and often noisy, making them easier to hear than to see in dense montane forest. They move through trees with strong hops and deliberate upward spirals around trunks, and on the ground they hop rather than walk. Flight is purposeful but not sustained, characterized by broad, rounded wings and slow, sweeping strokes. Their vocal repertoire is among the most varied of North American corvids, ranging from loud “wek” and “wah” scolds to descending harsh calls, guttural notes, mechanical-sounding rattles, and occasional mimicked sounds of other birds and mammals. Excited birds may produce rapid call sequences while spreading wings or tail. Around campgrounds and picnic areas they are inquisitive and opportunistic, quickly discovering feeders, food scraps, or unsecured items.

In Texas, Steller’s jays are restricted to the high-elevation conifer forests of the Trans-Pecos, breeding above roughly 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in the Davis Mountains and in the Guadalupe Mountains – especially in The Bowl, where ponderosa pine and Douglas fir dominate. They are permanent residents in these cool, shaded forests, with breeding occurring from late April through mid-July. Outside the breeding season, some individuals wander to lower elevations or appear irregularly elsewhere in western Texas, particularly in fall and winter. Their presence in the state depends entirely on the availability of mature evergreen habitat, which remains limited but relatively stable. Although the species shows modest declines across its broader range, Texas populations appear steady within their restricted mountain strongholds.

Identifying Texas’s Blue Birds

Texas’s blue birds appear in every season and habitat, from backyard feeders to mountain forests. With the traits in this guide, you’ll be able to recognize them wherever you encounter flashes of blue across the state’s diverse landscapes.