Bluebirds are a joy to see in the wild! When I catch a glimpse of sky-blue flash across an open field, or flutter down from a fence post, I have to pause to see if I can spot a pair of bluebirds. While I am familiar with eastern bluebirds, since they are native to my part of the country, there are actually three species of bluebirds that live in North America and they have multiple subspecies. Since I’m less familiar with some of the bluebirds that live in other areas, I wanted to make a detailed list (with photos) to help bluebird enthusiasts like myself recognize each of these birds. So here is the complete list of every type of bluebird in North America.
The Three Species of Bluebirds in North America
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Where to find them: East of the Rocky Mountains in Canada, USA, Mexico, and as far south as Nicaragua
Western Bluebirds
Sialia mexicana
Where to find them: West of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to Mexico
Mountain Bluebirds
Sialia currucoides
Where to find them: In the western US and Canada, especially in mountainous areas at elevations above 7,000 feet
Note: I wrote an article called “Are Bluebirds Endangered?” That post gives a lot of information about the population size of bluebirds and the population trends of each of the three species. If you’re interested in the bluebird population and what the future holds for them, click here to give that article a read.
While there are only three species of bluebirds in North America, two of the species (eastern and western bluebirds) have several recognized subspecies. Subspecies are generally classified when a group of birds of a certain species occupies a specific geographic area and may even have distinctive physical characteristics. Next, let’s look at all of the known subspecies of bluebirds in North America, starting with eastern bluebirds.
Every Type of Eastern Bluebird in North America
Subspecies of Eastern Bluebirds
1. Azure Bluebird
Sialia sialis fulva
Where to find them: In the southwestern US to northern Mexico.
2. Bermuda Bluebird
Sialia sialis bermudensis
Where to find them: This particular subspecies is only found in (you guessed it!) Bermuda.
3. Florida Bluebird
Sialia sialis grata
No photo available.
Where to find them: In southern peninsular Florida in the US.
4. Tamaulipas Bluebird
Sialia sialis episcopus
No photo available.
Where to find them: In southern coastal Texas to southern Tamaulipas, Mexico.
5. Guatemalan Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis guatemalae
No photo available.
Where to find them: In Guatemala and the mountains of southeastern Mexico.
6. Caribbean Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis caribaea
No photo available.
Where to find them: In eastern Honduras and in northeastern Nicaragua.
7. Sialia sialis nifificans
No photo available.
Where to find them: In the Caribbean slope of East central Mexico.
8. Sialia sialis meridionalis
No photo available.
Where to find them: In the mountains of El Salvador, west to Honduras, and south to Nicaragua
Every Type of Western Bluebird in North America
Now, let’s look at all of the known subspecies of the western bluebird that we have in North America.
Subspecies of Western Bluebirds
1. Sialia mexicana mexicana
Where to find them: Throughout the western US and the central Mexican states.
2. Sialia mexicana occidentalis
Where to find them: In southern British Colombia, southern California, and western Nevada
3. San Pedro Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana occidentalis (anabelae)
Where to find them: In the mountains of northern Baja California.
4. Chestnut-backed Bluebird
Sialia mexicana bairdi
No photo available.
Where to find them: In the southwest US to northern Mexico (esp. Sonora and Chihuahua)
5. Sialia mexicana amabilis
No photo available.
Where to find them: In the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico (southern Chihuahua to Zacatecas)
6. Sialia mexicana jacoti
No photo available.
Where to find them: More information needed
7. Sialia mexicana nelsoni
No photo available.
Where to find them: More information needed
Mountain Bluebirds
Mountain bluebirds are not currently known to have any subspecies, but they do sometimes interbreed with eastern and western bluebirds. While it’s rare for bluebirds to interbreed in the wild all together, where their ranges overlap, mountain bluebirds have been known to interbreed with eastern bluebirds, and even more rarely, western bluebirds. So, at least some hybridization does occur.
Conclusion
This is my best attempt at the complete list of every type of bluebird in North America. Sometimes, new subspecies are determined and I might need to make an addition to the list. Ranges of each subspecies may also need to be updated or modified. But at this point, the list is as complete as I can make it.
If you would like to help complete the list further, I need some help with photos. If you know where to find photos of any of the subspecies of bluebirds that appear without a pictures on the tables above, please let me know. You can also share the photos with me at bluebirdlandlord@gmail.com. Thank you!
