Literary works have long drawn on "arctic blue" as a vivid descriptor to evoke the cool, crisp essence of polar landscapes and living beings. In ornithological contexts, the term frequently names a bird species whose plumage mirrors the frosty hues of its namesake, as seen in several texts ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]). This naming convention not only captures the visual impact of the color but also imbues the creatures with an otherworldly charm, as when observers recount the majestic flight of these birds in rugged terrains ([7], [8], [9]). Beyond the natural world, "arctic blue" also surfaces in more intimate portrayals, such as the reflective gaze of a character whose eyes are described in this striking shade ([10]), further demonstrating the color’s versatility in literature as a symbol of both delicate beauty and quiet intensity.
- Arctic Blue Bird.
— from A Synopsis of the Birds of North America by John James Audubon
- Arctic Blue Bird, Sylvia Arctica, Aud.
— from A Synopsis of the Birds of North America by John James Audubon
- Arctic Blue Bird, Sialia Arctica, Nutt.
— from A Synopsis of the Birds of North America by John James Audubon
- Arctic Bluebird.
— from The Birds of Washington (Volume 1 of 2)
A complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state by John Hooper Bowles
- Erythaca (Sialia) Arctica, Arctic Blue Bird, Swains. & Rich.
— from A Synopsis of the Birds of North America by John James Audubon
- The females of this species are distinguished by a greener blue color and longer wings, and this bird is often called the Arctic Bluebird.
— from Birds, Illustrated by Color Photography, Vol. 2, No. 6
December, 1897 by Various
- An arctic bluebird fluttered along the eastern slope in vain quest of a foothold, and alighted, panting, at our feet.
— from Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada by Clarence King
- We saw Arctic Bluebirds, Say's Flycatcher and Lazuli Finches.
— from Audubon and His Journals, Volume 2 (of 2) by John James Audubon
- Sprague went across the hills eastward, and was fortunate enough to shoot a superb specimen of the Arctic Bluebird.
— from Audubon and His Journals, Volume 2 (of 2) by John James Audubon
- "Three years," mused Dane, gazing into space out of his slitted eyes of arctic blue; "yes, that's some little time.
— from Athalie by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers