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15 Lovely Blue And Red Birds (Photos, Fun Facts, And ID Info)

Blue and red are attention-grabbing colors associated with the sky and love and symbolize freedom, passion, and energy.

That’s why birds that have blue and red plumage have always been very popular. 

Examples of blue and red birds include the painted bunting, crimson rosella, scarlet macaw, red-and-blue lory, firethroat, eastern bluebird, and many others. 

Some of these stunning birds can be seen in the USA, including the painted bunting and eastern bluebird, among others.

Here are their photos and some fun facts about them.

Blue And Red Birds

Crimson Rosella

crimson rosella
  • Scientific name: Platycercus elegans
  • Lifespan: 25 years
  • Wingspan: 6.5-7.5 in

Crimson rosellas are medium-sized parrots native to eastern and southeastern Australia. They breed there from September to January and have a clutch of 3-8 white and shiny eggs.

These blue and red birds are commonly found around open forests, woodlands, gardens, and parks. There are 7 subspecies of crimson rosella; 3 of those are blue and red.

You will identify them by their rich blue wings, blue cheeks, overall red plumage, pale gray beaks, and dark brown eyes.

These birds can be conspicuous and noisy, especially when foraging. Crimson rosellas feed on plants, especially seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, some insects, and insect larvae.

They can be even attracted to garden seed trays. Once familiar with humans, they will even accept hand-held food.

They can’t talk like macaws, but they can mimic whistles and songs.


Scarlet Macaw

scarlet macaw
  • Scientific name: Ara macao
  • Lifespan: 40-50 years
  • Wingspan: 39 in

Scarlet macaws are one of the largest parrots in the world. They can have a wingspan of up to 3.3 ft, length of up to 2.75 ft, and weigh around 2.3 lb.

Their striking plumage makes them one of the most popular birds in aviculture.

Speaking of appearance, scarlet macaws have overall red plumage, light blue rumps and tail-covert feathers, and dark blue wings. Their upper wing coverts are yellow, their eyes have white skin around, and the beaks are pale horn-and-black in color.

These blue and red parrots can live a long life, typically from 40 to 50 years; some manage to survive for 90 years!

Scarlet macaws are the national birds of Honduras and they breed in lowland rainforests and semiopen areas with big trees in Central and Southern America. During their breeding period, they become extremely aggressive.

Scarlet macaws are monogamous birds that stay together for life. They are also omnivores and feed on fruits, nuts, seeds, flowers, fruit nectar, insects, and larvae.

Scarlet macaws are very intelligent birds that can mimic human speech.


Painted Bunting

painted bunting
  • Scientific name: Passerina ciris
  • Lifespan: 5-10 years
  • Wingspan: 8-9 in

Painted buntings are described as one of the most beautiful birds. Often nicknamed “nonpareil” which means “without equal,” these blue and red birds are native to North America.

Painted buntings breed from late April to early August in the United States and can be found in Florida, different parts of Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

Florida is the only US state that has a breeding and wintering population of painted buntings. 

Despite being common in the USA, you might have trouble finding painted buntings as they prefer to stay in deep brush. The best time to see and hear them would be early in the morning when the males usually sing.

Their song consists of a series of short, musical phrases of thin, sweet, high-pitched notes. Painted buntings’ call is a soft “chip” or a “chit.”

Male painted buntings can be identified by their stunning blue head colors, red underparts, and green backs. Females usually have bright yellow-green colors

Painted buntings are common around woods, fields, and feeders.

They might look cute and colorful, but painted buntings are aggressive birds. They are very territorial and will attack other males of their species.

Painted buntings are omnivores that mostly feed on seeds and insects.


Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush
  • Scientific name: Monticola rufiventris
  • Lifespan: n/a
  • Wingspan: n/a

Chestnut-bellied rock thrushes are tiny birds that can be seen in temperate forests of Asia.

Males have dark blue color above, orange-red below, and dark faces. Females are not alike; they have a gray-brown color with boldly scaled underparts and whitish crescents behind the ears. 

They have a song that consists of a series of buzzy whistles and will also make distinctive low, harsh scratching calls.

These birds are often found in pairs, sitting quietly on a rock or a tree branch.

They are omnivores that primarily feed on insects, berries, even mollusks, and small lizards. Chestnut-bellied rock thrushes forage mostly on the ground.


Plumbeous Water Redstart

Plumbeous Water Redstart
  • Scientific name: Phoenicurus fuliginosus
  • Lifespan: n/a
  • Wingspan: n/a

Common around fast-moving streams and rivers, plumbeous water redstarts are native to southern and southeastern Asia and much of China. They breed there from March to July.

Males are slate blue and have rusty red tails; females are gray and have white rumps. They have black bills, dark brown eyes, and flesh-colored legs and feet.

Plumbeous water redstarts got their name from their dull color that resembles lead.

They are usually found at elevations ranging from 6,600 ft to 13,500 ft; when the winter comes, plumbeous water redstarts will go down to lower altitudes.

These blue and red birds are omnivores that mainly feed on insects, but might also consume some berries and seeds. 

Plumbeous water-redstarts are very territorial and aggressive and will often chase away all the birds entering their area, even larger ones.


Violet Turaco

violet turaco close up
  • Scientific name: Musophaga violacea
  • Lifespan: up to 30 years
  • Wingspan: 8-9 in

Violet turacos are large unmistakable birds found in Western Africa. 

They are also known as the violet plantain-eaters and got the name for their rich purple-black plumage. Violet turacos also have crimson red wing and head patches that come from a copper-based pigment called the “turacine”, giving them their full names. 

These shy and inconspicuous birds are also easy to recognize by the crimson on their heads, bright orange beaks, and loud “cooroo-cooroo” calls.

They are omnivores that feed on fruits, leaves, buds, flowers, seeds, insects, snails, and slugs. 

Violet turacos mostly inhabit tropical savannas, wetlands, woodlands, and forests.


Red-and-blue Lory

red and blue lory
Source: Drägüs, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
  • Scientific name: Eos histrio
  • Lifespan: 10-15 years in captivity
  • Wingspan: n/a

Native to Asia, red-and-blue lories are striking red and blue parrots with fairly long tails and sharp bright orange beaks.

Both sexes are alike and are red above, have purple-blue crowns, deep blue chest bands, deep violet-blue backs, gray feet, and dark brown eyes.

They prefer to stay in pairs or groups in forests, forest edges, and nearby plantations and often communicate with short, harsh chattering screeches.

Red-and-blue lories are arboreal birds that live in the trees. They are omnivores that feed on nectar and some insects and fruits. They do not forage on the ground.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared them endangered and the trade of wild-caught birds is forbidden. 

However, their population is still in decline due to habitat loss and illegal trade; some estimates claim that 5,500–14,000 red-and-blue lories remain in the wild today.


Eclectus Parrot

female eclectus parrot
  • Scientific name: Eclectus roratus 
  • Lifespan: 30-50 years
  • Wingspan: 34-35 in

Eclectus parrots are parrots native to the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, the Moluccas, and New Guinea. They have large heads, short tails, and yellow-orange eyes.

Females are bright red and have blue bellies and underwings; males are bright green with blue underwings.

Because of those differences, until the 20th century, people considered them to be separate species. 

A healthy male Eclectus parrot will have a bright orange beak – this means that the bird is in good condition. 

They are shy birds that are active during the day and spend most of their time collecting food, eating, and resting. They are omnivores that mostly feed on fruits, seeds, figs, nuts, and flowers in the wild.

Eclectus parrots are great at mimicking human speech and can produce various sounds, including tones, coos, whistles, and laughs.

They are on our list of largest red birds; check the full list here.


Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Southern Carmine Bee-eaters
  • Scientific name
  • Lifespan: 7 years in the wild
  • Wingspan: n/a

One of the largest species of bee-eaters, Southern carmine bee-eaters are richly colored birds with black legs and feet, long and pointed wings, dark facial masks, red eyes, and black beaks.

They can be identified by their mostly carmine red color with turquoise-blue crowns and undertails.

Southern carmine bee-eaters are common in low-altitude river valleys and floodplains of sub-equatorial Africa.

They are social species that gather in large flocks and roost communally in trees.

These migratory red and blue birds are carnivores that mainly feed on insects that they catch in flight.


Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
  • Scientific name: Uraeginthus bengalus
  • Lifespan: 5-10 years
  • Wingspan: 8.5-9.5 in

Red-cheeked cordon-bleu or red-cheeked cordonbleu is a small finch that breeds in dry regions of tropical Sub-Saharan Africa.

It is named after the dark red patches on the male’s cheeks.

Male red-cheeked cordon bleu can be identified by its brown upperparts, blue breasts, flanks, and tails, and red cheek patches. The female looks similar but has duller colors and lacks cheek spots.

Commonly found in pairs or small flocks, these birds are granivores that mainly feed on grass seeds, other small seeds, and some beeswax.

There are four subspecies of red-cheeked cordon bleu, depending on the blue color on the face and female underpart color.

You can also try to identify them by their thin, high-pitched piping call that sounds like “siii siii” or “tsee tsee.” Their song consists of 4-6 high-pitched notes that sound like “wit-sit-diddley-diddley-ee-ee.”


Victoria Crowned Pigeon

victoria crowned pigeon
  • Scientific name: Goura victoria
  • Lifespan: 20-25 years
  • Wingspan: 15-20 in

Victoria crowned pigeons are the largest pigeons in the world. They have elegant blue lace-like crests on their heads, maroon-red breasts, and red eyes. 

When taking off, these enormous bluish-gray birds will clap their wings very loudly. 

Victoria crowned pigeons got their name from the easy-to-recognize spectacular crest of lacy feathers on their heads and the British Queen Victoria. 

Their habitats include swamps and palm forests where these birds feed on fruits, berries, and seeds. 

To seduce the female, a male will bow before her, wag his fanned tail, and make “booming noises”. 

Victoria crowned pigeons are monogamous and will mate for life. And like other pigeons, Victoria crowned ones will produce “crop milk” to feed the chick in the first few days of its life.


Firethroat

firethroat
  • Scientific name: Calliope pectardens
  • Lifespan: n/a
  • Wingspan: n/a

Also known as David’s rubythroat or Père David’s orangethroat, the firethroat is a small songbird found in temperate forests of Asia.

Males have stunning metallic blue backs, black masks extending down to the shoulders, and burning flame-red throats and breasts. Females are mostly plain brown.

Their scientific name “calliope” comes from Greek and means “beautiful-voiced,” while “pectardens” comes from the Latin “pectus” for “breast” and “ardens” meaning “fiery” or “glowing.”

Firethroats are shy blue and red birds that will only come out of the undergrowth to sing; their song is described as repetitive and pleasant.

They breed in dense, low montane vegetation and winter in similar habitats in the lower foothills.

Firethroats are carnivores that mainly feed insects and forage on the ground.


Eastern Bluebird

eastern bluebird
  • Scientific name: Sialia sialis
  • Lifespan: 6-10 years
  • Wingspan: 9.8–12.6 in

Eastern bluebirds are the smallest bluebird species in the world. They can weigh less than an ounce and have a wingspan of under 10 inches. 

These small North American migratory thrushes are easy to spot by their rounded heads, dark eyes, and alert posture. 

Male eastern bluebirds have vivid, deep blue color above and rusty or brick-red throats and breasts.

Females are gray above with bluish wings and tails and subdued orange-brown bellies. 

They prefer the open country with scattered trees, farms, and roadsides. 

Just like their cousins, the mountain bluebirds, the eastern bluebirds are cavity nesters that love nest boxes. 

They are very social birds living in flocks with over 100 individuals, but also very territorial during the breeding season. To attract a female, a male bluebird will sing over 1,000 songs per hour; it sings without opening its beak wide. 

They have a soft melodious warble song and a liquid and musical “turee” or “queedle” call. 

These birds are omnivores that mostly feed on insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, caterpillars, and some fruit. 

Eastern bluebirds are the official birds of Missouri and New York and can be found in eastern parts of the United States.

Read More: What are some of the most common birds in New York City?


Resplendent Quetzal

blue Resplendent Quetzal
  • Scientific name: Pharomachrus mocinno
  • Lifespan: 20-25 years
  • Wingspan: 15.7 in

The resplendent quetzal is a small bird found in southern Mexico and Central America. 

The name “resplendent” perfectly suits these vibrantly colored birds – the word means “attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous”. Quetzal means sacred, erected, or precious. 

Talking about their appearance, resplendent quetzals have iridescent metallic green-blue plumage, shaggy crests on their head, and red breasts and bellies.

The long wispy tail feathers extend twice the length of the bird. 

These beautiful birds live in the mountainous, tropical forests of Central America where they feed on fruit, insects, lizards, and other small creatures. 

Resplendent quetzals are territorial and monogamous birds but will spend time alone during the non-breeding season. 

The resplendent quetzal is a national bird of Guatemala and Aztecs and Mayas used its feathers as currency.

Read More: Examples of black and red birds


Red-winged Starling

red-winged starling
  • Scientific name: Onychognathus morio
  • Lifespan: n/a
  • Wingspan: n/a

Red-winged starlings are large birds native to eastern Africa. They are common in forests, savannahs, grasslands, wetlands, farmlands, plantations, and urban areas.

Males can be identified by their glossy black-blue plumage with bright chestnut-red primary wing feathers. Females have ash-gray plumage.

Red-winged starlings can be also identified by several whistled calls with the most common being the contact “cher-leeeoo” call.

Highly gregarious outside of the breeding season, these blue and red birds become very territorial and aggressive when nesting. They are known to attack other birds, even domestic animals, and humans.

Red-winged starlings will build their nests using grass, twigs, and mud and nest around cliffs. A female will lay 2-4 blue eggs that are spotted with red, twice per year.

A great spotted cuckoo will often kick this starling’s eggs and lay its own for the starling to raise (brood parasitism).

Red-winged starlings are omnivores. They feed on fruits, seeds, insects, mollusks, snails, spiders, and carrion, and forage on the ground, in trees, or in bushes.

Read More: Examples of huge blue birds


Summary

This concludes our list of blue and red birds.

Examples include several types of parrots, bluebirds, cardinals, pigeons, and many others. 

Hopefully next time you see these birds, you will recognize any of them with ease! 

And if you enjoyed our article, here are other popular reads on birds: 25+ examples of orange and blue birds and 20+ examples of black birds with blue heads

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