Which Birds in US are Colored Patriotic Red, White and Blue (or So Called Fourth of July Birds)?

Independence Day, or the Fourth of July, is widely celebrated with flying flags, fireworks and red, white and blue banners. Many of the 600 species of birds found in the U.S. bear the same patriotic colors.

Most Popular Red Birds Found in the U.S.

Topping the list of popular red birds found in the U.S. would be the Northern Cardinal, which has been adopted by seven states as their official state bird. Kentucky, in 1926, became the first state to choose a state bird, the Northern Cardinal. Six other states eventually selected the Cardinal, as well, making it . The Northern Cardinal is an excellent choice for a Fourth of July bird, too, since it is found year-round in 39 of the 50 states.

Summer and Scarlet Tanagers spend their summers in much of the United States, where they mate, nest and raise their young. As with Cardinals, the bright red feathers found on these two tanagers are limited to the males, since the females, as with most other bird species, tend to hide behind the camouflage of duller colors. Male Vermilion Flycatchers are also stunningly red, though they’re regularly seen in only a few southwestern states.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Red-headed Woodpeckers are two of many birds that carry some red. The male Red Crossbill, on the other hand, has more red feathers, but they aren’t as brightly red. The American Robin, found year-round in most states, is more orange than red, but it’s a good candidate for “Fourth of July” bird, and is one of the country’s most familiar birds. Besides, it’s viewed in songs, poetry and restaurant names as the “red robin”.

White-feathered Birds of the U.S.

Many birds have some white feathers, and a significant number are virtually all white. Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets are found in nearly every state, either as year-round residents, winter residents, summer breeders or just migrating through. Both birds have all white feathers, and are eye-catching in flight or at rest. The Great Egret, naturally, is the larger of the two, and at 39 inches in length, about 15 inches longer than the Snowy. Apart from size, bills and feet are the two best ways to identify these birds. Snowy Egrets have black bills and yellow feet, while the Great Egret’s bill is yellow, and his feet are black. The American White Pelican is another all-white bird, found during migration across many states.

Several hawks, including Ferruginous, Red-tailed and Rough-legged show a great deal of white, especially in juveniles. The most patriotic of our “white” birds, however, has to be the Bald Eagle, the country’s national symbol. Mature (fourth year and older) males and females alike are distinctive with their 80-inch wingspan and pure white head and tail.

“Blue” U.S. Birds

Although plenty of U.S. birds are “blue”, their coloration is due to optics, not pigmentation. There are actually no birds anywhere in the world with blue-pigmented feathers. Bird feathers that appear blue are the result of light refraction, produced by the unique structure of the feather. The iridescent colors found in many hummingbirds are created similarly. Perhaps the “Fourth of July” birds should be called “red, white and refracted.”

A number of birds have blue in their name as well as in their color, including the Blue Jay, Western, Mountain and Eastern Bluebirds, Blue Grosbeak, Blue-throated Hummingbird, Blue-footed Booby, Great Blue and Little Blue Herons, Black-throated Blue and Blue-winged Warblers. Other bird names include variations on blue, like the Indigo Bunting and the Cerulean Warbler.

Probably the best choices for Fourth of July birds would be the bluebirds, since they’ve got the name, are widespread across the U.S. and two of the three species are state birds. At least one of the three species is found in each of the continental states. The Mountain Bluebird is the state bird for Idaho and Nevada, and the Eastern Bluebird is the state bird for Missouri and New York.

A Birder’s Celebration of the Fourth of July

In addition to flag flying and fireworks, birders might celebrate the holiday with a “red, white and blue” field trip, looking for and listing birds with those colors in their names and feathers. It’s also a safer activity than lighting firecrackers.