Blue Grosbeak

Passerina caerulea

Explore this bird

Identification

17 cm (7") Fairly common throughout United States; during migration may stray to Canada. Hedgerows, overgrown fields, streamsides, brushy roadsides.

Thick-billed bird.

Male: larger than similar Indigo Bunting. In good light it shows deep blue overall with two rusty or tan wing bars.

Female: warm uniform brown, lighter below with two buff wing bars. Rump is tinged with blue. Larger than similar female Indigo Bunting.

In poor light, may be mistaken for Cowbird - it has similar shape and size.

Tail fanning habit.

Song: sweet jumbled warble, loud "chink" call.

Details in the field

1 photo

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

2 videos

Blue Grosbeak

Credit: Don DesJardin

Blue Grosbeak - Cape May, New Jersey

Credit: Greg Gard

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Blue · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Blue · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Blue · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:878-blue-grosbeak-male:1:1 Source: 878 Blue Grosbeak (Male), row 1

Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Blue · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Blue · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Blue · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:878-blue-grosbeak-male:2:1 Source: 878 Blue Grosbeak (Male), row 2

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:879-blue-grosbeak-female:1:1 Source: 879 Blue Grosbeak (Female), row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:879-blue-grosbeak-female:2:1 Source: 879 Blue Grosbeak (Female), row 2