Several common backyard birds lay blue (or bluish) eggs, so there isn’t just one species that fits the question “what kind of bird lays blue eggs?”

Quick Scoop: Short Answer

If you’ve found a smooth, sky‑blue egg in a nest, the most likely candidates (especially in North America) are:

  • American robin
  • Eastern / Western / Mountain bluebird
  • Blue jay
  • Starling, thrushes, and some blackbirds

Other species like the blue-footed booby, emu, and various finches and herons also lay blue or blue‑green eggs, but you usually won’t see those in a typical backyard.

Mini Guide: Common Blue-Egg Layers

  • American robin – Classic “robin’s egg blue”; smooth, bright blue eggs in cup nests in trees, shrubs, or on ledges.
  • Bluebirds (Eastern, Western, Mountain) – Light, powder-blue eggs, often unspotted, laid in tree cavities or nest boxes.
  • Blue jay – Blue to blue‑green eggs with brown speckles, in sturdy nests 10–25 feet up in trees.
  • Thrushes and blackbirds – Some species (like song thrush or red‑winged blackbird) lay bluish or blue‑green eggs, sometimes with speckles.

Why Are Some Bird Eggs Blue?

  • Blue color often comes from a pigment called biliverdin in the shell, which can act as camouflage in certain light and habitats.
  • In some species, more intensely blue eggs are linked to the health or condition of the female, so they may play a role in mate choice or parental investment.

If you describe the egg’s size, whether it has spots, and where the nest is (tree cavity, ground, shrub, nest box), it’s often possible to narrow it down to a specific bird from this list.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.