Are There Blue Cardinal? Detailed on Enigmatic Bird
Birds’ behavior and appearances sometimes bring great curiosity among bird enthusiasts. They spend time to understand their hidden facts.
People think they have seen Blue cardinals in their backyards. They are shocked to hear that they were not cardinals at all. However, they may spot other blue-colored birds that they mistakenly perceive as Blue Cardinals.
Interestingly, there is no such bird as a blue cardinal. Because their presences are not proven by science. People usually misperceive other Bluebirds as northern cardinals because of their size, crest, and close appearance.
Table of Contents
What are Cardinals?
The common type of cardinal is from North America and is called Northern Cardinals. They have red-pointed beaks and prominent mohawks on their heads. They consume fruits, tiny insects, berries, and Chia seeds. Their red-colored features enhance their beauty and make them popular among birds. Because of their popularity, Ornithologists spend their time and effort studying them.
Different Color Cardinals
Cardinals have different colors that make them unique.
| Color | Cardinal species | Distribution |
| Red | Northern Cardinal | Eastern parts of Northern America: US, Canada, and parts of Mexico |
| Yellow | Northern Cardinal (Rare variants) | Smae in characteristics but change in color |
| White | Northern Cardinal (Rare variants) | Pigment variation and appears white |
| Gray | Desert Cardinal or Pyrrhuloxia | Further into southern parts of Mexico & Central America, desert climate |
Do Blue Cardinals exist, or is it Just a rumor?
Scientific data do not support the presence of Blue cardinals. It means it doesn’t exist. People often mistakenly identify other blue-colored birds as Blue cardinals, but they are not.
Read More; Difference between goose vs Geese
Causes of Mistakenly Identity
There are many reasons to claim that you see a blue cardinal. Honestly speaking that bird is not a blue cardinal, you mistakenly identify them. Some ground reality that leads to this mistaken identity are:
- Some blue-colored birds have crests similar to red cardinals.
- Beaks of some species are like them
- You may identify other birds as blue cardinals because of their same form and size
- Sometimes, natural or artificial lighting can lead us to think of red cardinals as blue.
- Facial remarking might be similar to other birds.
- Northern Cardinals are common garden visitors.
Instead of What you most likely saw?
People confuse blue-colored birds with each other because they have the same appearance. Some birds in the US may confuse you in perceiving them rightly.
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
They are medium-sized birds that people commonly confuse for blue cardinals. Although they belong to other species, they appear similar to cardinals. They have small head crests and big beaks that split speeds like cardinals.
Blue Grosbeak and Northern Cardinal
Look at the below to understand the similarities and differences between these two.
| Characteristics | Similarities | Differences |
| Crown | Both have a triangular crown that commonly stands on the head | Blue Grosbeaks have no crown but the Cardinals has |
| Beak | Both have stubby, thick triangular beaks | Cardinals’ bills don’t curve slightly down compared to grosbeak. |
| Body | Both are around 8″ long | Cardinal’s body is rounded and plumper. |
| Backyard Visitor | Cardinals are commonly backyard visitors compared to blue grosbeaks |
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Indigo Bunting is another entertaining bird people mistakenly perceive as a blue cardinal. Its glowing blue wings are visible. This bird has a plump, spherical body with triangular crests standing on the top of the head. Its beaks are thinner, shorter, and sharper compared to cardinals.
Indigo Bunting and Northern Cardinal
This table shows the common aspects and the facts that differentiate these two birds.
| Characteristics | Similarities | Differences |
| Crown | Both have a triangular-shaped crown, frequently stands on the head | |
| Beak | Indigo bunting has thin, short, and pointy beaks but cardinal has stubby, thick, and triangular beaks | |
| Body | Both have fat and round body shapes. The stance of Indigo Bunting and the Cardinals leans a little forward | Cardinal is larger compared to Indigo bunting. The Cardinals are around 8.5″ long while Indigo bunting is about 5″ long. |
| Backyard Visitor | Cardinals are common backyard visitors while Indigo bunting is less common as backyard visitors. |
Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata)
It is also included in those birds people mistakenly identify as blue cardinals. They are the same in shape but have a slightly larger body. This remarkable bird has a big crown on its head.
Blue Jay and Northern Cardinals
Look at the table to understand the different aspects of Blue Jay and Northern Cardinals.
| Characteristics | Similarities | Differences |
| Crown | Blue Jay and Cardinal have a triangular-shaped crown, frequently stands on the head | |
| Beak | Blue Jays have, thin, mid-length, and sharp beaks but cardinals have stubby, thick, and triangular beaks | |
| Body | Both have big and plump bodies. They have short wings and long tails | Blue Jay are around 9-12″ long while Cardinals are about 8.5″ long. |
| Backyard Visitor | Both of them often visit backyards |
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
This little songbird has a grey hue which is sometimes identified as blue. Its head crests and black forehead increase the chances of misperceiving it as a blue cardinal. They are found in eastern areas of the United States.
Tufted Titmouse and Northern Cardinals
Let’s discuss the similarities and differences of these birds.
| Characteristics | Similarities | Differences |
| Crown | Tufted Titmouse and Cardinal have a crown that frequently stands on the head | Tufted titmice have a thinner and smaller crowns while cardinals have thicker and larger crown |
| Beak | Tufted titmice have sharp and thin beaks but cardinals have stubby, thick, and triangular beaks | |
| Body | Both have plump and round body shape | Tufted titmice are around 6″ long while Cardinals are roughly 8.5″ long. |
| Backyard Visitor | Cardinals commonly visit the backyard compared to tufted titmice |
Less commonly but still birds Mistakenly identify as Blue Cardinals
Some birds are less commonly misperceived as blue cardinals. These are Steller’s Jay, pyrrhuloxia, Florida scrub, and red-crested cardinals.
Stellar’s Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)
This bird may periodically be misperceived as a blue cardinal. Furthermore, Steller Jays and Northern Cardinals stay on opposite sides( east vs west).
Stelle’s Jay and Northern Cardinals
The following table gives their similarities and differences.
| Characteristics | Similarities | Differences |
| Crown | Both have tall and thick crowns | |
| Beak | Stellar’s jay has thinner and longer beaks while cardinal has stubby, short, and triangular beaks | |
| Body | Stellar’s Jay has a trim body and erect stance while Cardinals has a round, plump body, and forward-tilted stance. Stellar’s Jay is longer compared to the Cardinals by around 3.5″. | |
| Backyard Visitor | Both commonly visit backyards. Stellar’s Jay on the western parts while Cardinals on the eastern coast of the US |
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus)
These are commonly called desert cardinals. It is mistakenly identified as blue cardinals although grey rather than blue. They live in southwestern areas of the US and Mexico deserts. They both belong to the same family but not the same species. So they share some differences and similarities. Do you The How Much Love Bird Cost.
Pyrrhuloxia and Northern Cardinals
Take a look at the following table to understand the similarities and differences between Pyruhhuloxia and Northern Cardinals
| Characteristics | Similarities | Differences |
| Crown | Both have crowns that commonly stand on heads. | Pyrrhuloxias has thinner and smaller crowns but cardinals have thick and larger crowns |
| Beak | The beaks of both birds are stubby, thick, and triangular | Pyrrhuloxias has a slightly curved beak |
| Body | Both are around 8″ long. The wings and tails. Both birds are approximately the same | Pyrrhuloxia has a more upright posture, compared to cardinals.Cardinals have plump and round bodies but pyrrhuloxias have slimmer bodies |
| Backyard Visitor | Pyrrhuloxia are less common backyard visitors particularly given their small range (Mexico, New Mexico, Taxes, Arizona) while cardinals are common visitors. |
Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)
This is the last North American bird that people mistakenly identify as blue cardinals. No matter, they lack crowns but still resemble cardinals. It has narrow beaks and is smaller than the cardinals.
Florida Scrub Jay and Cardinals
The given table highlights the similarities and distinctions between them.
| Characteristics | Similarities | Differences |
| Crown | Florida Scrub doesn’t have a crown but the Cardinals have | |
| Beak | Florida scrub has thinner and longer beaks compared to cardinals have stubby, small, and triangular beaks | |
| Body | Both have a chubby, rounded body | Florida scrub is roughly 2″ smaller and has longer tails and wings than Cardinals |
| Backyard Visitor | Florida Scrub jays are less common in the backyard but cardinals are commonly backyard visitors. |
Red-Crested Cardinals
This bird is native to the Southern part of America. It appears blue on its wings and upper back. Because of the similarity, common in red-crested cardinals and cardinals, people may assume that red-crested cardinals are a certain type of cardinals but it is not a fact.
Red-Crested Cardinals and Northern Cardinals
Let’s discuss the similarities and differences between these two birds.
| Characteristics | Similarities | Differences |
| Crown | The crowns of both birds are tall and thick | |
| Beak | Both have stubby and short beaks with triangular shapes. But the beak of red-crested cardinals is similar to an obtuse triangle more | |
| Body | Both have fat, rounded bodies with forward-tilted stances. | The size difference between them is about 1 inch. |
| Backyard Visitor | Both are common visitors of backyards in their respective areas (red-crested cardinals in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and South America and Northern cardinals visits in the eastern US) |
Blue Colored Birds are Not Blue at all
They look blue because of natural or artificial lighting. The features of some birds reflect the light differently than others to represent a blue hue.
Blue Cardinal Symbolism and Meaning
Rarity: Blue cardinals symbolize sorority, distinctiveness, and mystery.
They are known for their different colors.
Clarity: The blue color symbolizes peace, clarity, and cleanliness.
Royalty: In the Middle Ages, cardinals were considered “princes” of the church.
Guidance: They are observed as spiritual mentors who can guide you in the correct direction.
Curiosity: Their hue develops curiosity song ornithologists.
Hope: The blue color shows hope, optimism, and possibility.
Courage: The color of this bird symbolizes bravery, fortitude, and boldness.
Vision: The color blue symbolizes inner vision, intuition, and creativity.
FAQS
Do blue cardinals behave in the same way as red cardinals?
Behaviourally, both red and blue cardinals are the same. They have the same diet, habitat, preference, and social behavior. The difference is due to their plumage hue.
Are Female Cardinals Blue?
No, the female northern cardinals’s wings, tail, and crest are wrapped with buffy brown feathers. Her beak is vibrant orange and exhibits a charcoal face mask
What looks like a blue Cardinals?
The Blue Cardinal is a bird that doesn’t exist in the world.
Final Thoughts
Are There Blue Cardinals? This question remains a title of debate among bird experts. Scientific data don’t support the existence of such birds. People usually misperceive other bluebirds as northern cardinals due to their similar features.
These common birds that people mistakenly identify as blue cardinals are Indigo bunting, blue grosbeak, blue jay, and tufted titmouse. Further research is needed to determine the facts behind blue cardinals.
