Does The Color Blue Actually Attract Birds? It's Complicated

Whether you're choosing an outfit, the hue of your car, or the paint on your walls, color matters. We have long been aware of the impact color has on our moods, which affects the choices we make. But do colors have the same effect on birds? Are there colors that will attract more birds to your garden, and when planning the flowers and decor in your garden, should you take color into account? Some have claimed that shiny colorful decorations like blue bottles appeal to birds, but is there any truth in the suggestion?

"It is well studied that birds are attracted to color," said Tom Lansley, with BirdLife International and a Ph.D. student at the University of Sheffield studying birds and biodiversity, in an exclusive interview with House Digest. Birds showcase colorful plumage when attracting a mate, and they're also drawn to colors when searching for a mate or food, he explained.

However, "to say one color is most attractive to all birds would be an oversimplification," added Lansley. He cited a 2020 study that discovered that the response of two bird species to colored food depended on their ages and previous experiences with the colored food. The study revealed that "juvenile birds preferred red both when it was presented simultaneously with green, and when it was presented with three alternative colors (orange, purple, green)." In essence, birds don't choose favorite colors as indiscriminately as people do — color attraction could be based on age, experience, and surrounding factors.

Even if one color isn't universally appealing to all birds, Tom Lansley explained in his exclusive interview with House Digest that "when feeding birds in your yard, color can affect which species are attracted." For example, the color blue has been known to attract bluebirds and Blue Jays. Lansley mentioned one study in Ecuador that found that red nectar feeders were more popular among hummingbirds than orange or blue feeders. Another study in the United Kingdom showed that green and silver feeders were more popular with garden birds than red or yellow ones. Conversely, there is a flower color that shouldn't be in your garden if you are trying to attract birds.

Lansley added that one of the variables that makes a color attractive to birds is the object that they are looking for — so what does this mean for backyard birders? "From my personal experience, I would think birds will be attracted to items that are useful to them, such as food, much more than other inanimate objects. Color can play a role in attraction, but whatever color a glass jar or bottle is, it won't attract more birds to a yard than appropriate food or a good nesting location," Lansley suggested. In other words, a blue feeder may appeal to a Blue Jay, but if the bird doesn't like the food it contains, the color of the feeder is moot. And birds probably aren't all that interested in your non-food-or-nest-related decorations.

Using a specific color isn't guaranteed to bring birds to your yard, but providing food and nest boxes can do the trick, according to Tom Lansley in his exclusive interview with House Digest. This will make birds happy, and don't discount what it means for people — there are many benefits to having a bird feeder in your yard. To take full advantage of these benefits, Lansley advises, "I would recommend feeders be placed around [six feet] from natural refugia, such as native plants. This is so that small birds have a place to retreat to, as they are always wary of being isolated, which increases the risk of predation. The type of food you provide can have a big impact on which species you attract."

Lansley also recommended providing water for birds, especially in dry regions. To make sure the birds you are feeding don't get sick, properly clean your feeders on a regular basis. Hanging up multiple feeders and cleaning the areas below them also can help reduce the risk of disease among birds.