Eastern Bluebird vs Orange-headed Thrush

Sialia sialis compared with Geokichla citrina

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Eastern Bluebird Orange-headed Thrush
Scientific Name Sialia sialis Geokichla citrina
Order Passeriformes Passeriformes
Family Turdidae Turdidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 17.5 cm (6.9 in)
Wingspan 27.0 cm (10.6 in) 23.6 cm (9.3 in)
Weight 31.0 g (1.09 oz) 57.583333333333336 g (2.03 oz)
Diet Insects in summer, berries in winter. Hunts from low perches, dropping to the ground to … --
Clutch Size 4-5 3-4
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Size Comparison

Body Length
Eastern Bluebird 17.5 cm
Orange-headed Thrush
Wingspan
Eastern Bluebird 27.0 cm
Orange-headed Thrush 23.6 cm
Weight
Eastern Bluebird 31.0 g
Orange-headed Thrush 57.583333333333336 g
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Eastern Bluebird only

Orange-headed Thrush only

Eastern Bluebird

Open woodland, farmland edges, orchards, and parks with scattered trees and open ground. Readily uses nest boxes.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Eastern Bluebird

Song

A rich, melodious warbled 'chur-wi, tur-a-lee' song. Both sexes sing. Call is a soft, musical 'turee'. Song is gentle and flute-like, suggesting a small thrush. Given from exposed perch.

Orange-headed Thrush

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Geographic Range & Migration

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern North America from southern Canada to Honduras and Nicaragua. Partially migratory.

Orange-headed Thrush

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Eastern Bluebird

Least Concern

Orange-headed Thrush

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Eastern Bluebird

Plumage

Males are vivid royal blue above with a rusty-red breast and white belly. Females are grey-blue with a paler rust breast.

Bill

Short, thin, dark bill

Orange-headed Thrush

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

Eastern Bluebird

The eastern bluebird is a beloved symbol of happiness in North America. Once declining due to habitat loss and competition from introduced species, populations recovered dramatically thanks to a massive citizen science nest box campaign. These gentle thrushes form loose winter flocks and huddle together in nest boxes during cold snaps.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Related Comparisons

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family