Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

male

male
female

Identification:
Cornell’s page on Western Bluebirds

Information: Id’ing a bluebird is an easy task as few birds carry that beautiful blue plumage, the only exceptions in this area is the lazuli bunting. Occasionally an Eastern Bluebird will stray into another area confusing the westerner however this is easily identified by the back which does not have the red in the shoulder area like the bird above. If the back has orange or red on it – it is a western bluebird. Another area of confusion is the mountain bluebird; in that case on the female mountain bluebird has no dark eye-line but all the other features are similar and on the male it has no red in it but is simply bright blue.