Some of the most interesting and attractive animals have blue eyes. This rare color makes all types of animals look interesting, but it might be a rare trait in some species.
Birds, bugs, cats, and even marsupials can have blue eyes. The nuance can be the result of a mutation or a natural occurrence that’s inherited from generation to generation.
Some of the most common types of animals with blue eyes include cougars and dogs. Some of the rarest types of animals with blue eyes include marsupials and wasps.
The following list of species is a summarization of both common and uncommon animals that have blue eyes. Many of these species are almost extinct in the wilderness, only surviving in zoos and in captivity.
Other species are even raising in numbers across the globe, including North America.
Here are some of the most representative species with blue eyes, including bright blue, dark blue, and even electric blue nuances which make them immediately stand out.
Table of Contents
1. Double-Crested Cormorant
A North American native, Double-Crested Cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) are some of the largest birds with blue eyes on the continent.
They show vivid blue eyes from a young age.
As adults, Double-Crested Cormorants are mostly black. Juveniles have white chests and underbellies but the eyes remain blue across the seasons.
The Double-Crested Cormorant is a species that eventually grows 2 white crests, going into the breeding season.
The eyes of the species remain blue both within and outside the breeding season.
Birds of this species can be seen across North America, both in migrating and non-migrating populations.
Double-Crested Cormorants on the coasts are residents while those in other areas, such as The Great Lakes are migratory.
This species dives and swims in open waters. Its diet is mostly made up of fish.
2. Pacific Blue Eye
High Pacific Blue Eye (Pseudomugil signifer) populations are seen along Australia’s East Coast.
Thousands of these small fish with blue eyes are seen together. Stand-out bright blue eyes are specific to these types of fish.
Growing to a length of just over 1 inch, Pacific Blue Eyes, live and feed in groups.
Apart from having blue eyes, they also have very good vision.
These small fish rely on their vision to locate different types of water insects they mostly feed on.
High adaptability is also specific to The Pacific Blue Eye. It can adapt in terms of food, eating algae in periods in which it cannot find any insects.
It can also adapt in terms of salinity and the types of water it lives in.
These small colorful fish quickly adapt buoyancy or their capacity to float in waters of different salinity.
This is why these small blue-eyed fish can also live in freshwaters.
3. Blue-eyed Ensign Wasp
Believed to be an introduced species in North America, The Blue-eyed Ensign Wasp (Evania appendigaster) is among the species that eat cockroach eggs.
It features large dark blue eyes, a black body, black legs, and transparent wings with visible black veins.
This type of wasp is often found indoors, mainly because it detects cockroach nests which it raids for eggs.
Relying on very good vision, this type of wasp can feed on the eggs of roach nests until there are no more eggs.
This is the primary reason why The Blue-eyed Ensign Wasp is even used as a natural control agent against cockroaches.
However, its role inside of the house is not entirely beneficial as it can also attract the attention of other species such as web-weaving spiders.
Blue-eyed Ensign Wasps indoors can be identified by their dark blue eyes and small size of around 0.2 inches.
4. Dragonfly
Often commonly blue, black, yellow, or brown, dragonflies are among the species which also have blue eyes across multiple species.
These types of flies that live next to water are known for their highly contrasting appearance and multiple species with very large blue eyes that cover their entire face.
- Blue Dasher
A mostly blue appearance is specific to Blue Dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis), a species with large blue eyes.
Its bright blue eyes show a green gradient as well while its body is fully blue and black. These types of dragonflies are also some of the most common in North America.
- Common Clubtail
Mostly black, Common Clubtails (Gomphus vulgatissimus) are some of the typical dragonflies with bright blue eyes of Europe.
Only male Common Clubtails have blue eyes as yellow and black-dominated females have yellow eyes.
5. Blue-eye Cardinalfish
A species known for its colorful appearance, Blue-eye Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus compressus) may be found in aquariums around the world.
Apart from being a known decorative species that grows to 5-6 inches, the fish are native to Asian marine territories where they live in high numbers.
Unlike many types of fish with blue eyes, The Blue-eye Cardinalfish is also a species known for its iridescent blue marks around the eyes.
The iridescence of these marks means the blue nuance around its eyes stands out even in water.
At the same time, the iridescent blue section around its eyes is the only truly colorful section of a mostly dark fish.
Brown stripes decorate the sides of the species while its ground color is a faded type of yellow.
There are 6 bands of various widths along the sides of the fish.
Most upper bands are interrupted while the rest of the dark brown bands are continuous.
6. Blue-Eyed Triplefin
Blue-eyed Triplefins (Notoclinops segmentatus) have blue eyes but they can also be partially blue in the winter.
The species of fish show characteristic red nuances, pink nuances, and faded salmon nuances across its head and body.
The eyes of the fish show an upper iridescent blue color with a lower iridescent color.
Blue-Eyed Triplefins are additionally known for their large eyes, in relation to their size and the size of the head.
The head of the fish is larger and wider than the body. Its blue and yellow eyes stand out on the red head (mostly in the breeding season) even more based on its black margins.
7. Blue-eyed Anole
Named after its woodland habitats, Blue-eyed Anoles (Anolis wood) have a dark green appearance with large bright blue eyes.
While the color of the lizard can change, the color of its eyes remains constant.
This is a species with an olive or olive-green color, with the capacity to slightly adapt its appearance, this is a species that controls orange pigments as well.
This is why The Blue-eyed Anole can be seen with orange spots as well as with various other orange patterns.
All of this camouflaging appearance of the lizard additionally include blue eye pigmentation.
A Central American native, this species is seen on trees, where its olive nuance helps it remain undetected.
It can be found in Costa Rican and Panama woodlands.
8. Dusky Earless Agama
A species of The Indo-Malaysia, Dusky Earless Agamas (Aphaniotis fusca) have blue eyes when breeding. There’s a bright blue nuance specific to these lizards, together with atypical light blue inner mouths.
The species itself shows olive or olive-brown nuances, ideal when camouflaging itself in forests as an arboreal species.
Some color variations are also visible in the breeding season for its head.
This is a lizard with a bright brown head and an olive body, an adaptation specific to its breeding season.
Outside of the breeding season, The Dusky Earless Agama has bright brown eyes.
The period between April and May marks the peak activity time and the time when The Dusky Earless Agama can be spotted the easiest.
The species can only be found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
9. Northern Gannet
Blue eyes are also specific to The Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus), a species that dominates the Atlantic.
One of the largest seabirds of The Atlantic, Northern Gannets have blue eyes from an early stage in their lives.
Unlike adults, Northern Gannet juveniles are marked by having a blue ring around the eyes as well, but they have a dark gray color.
Adult Northern Gannets have a bright appearance with mostly white plumage.
These birds live in colonies, sometimes of up to thousands of members. Found around The Atlantic, the birds are prevalent in Northern UK territories when it comes to a presence in large colonies.
Birds of the genus are spectacular in breeding habits as well. They plunge for food and travel short to medium distances when migrating.
10. Yellow-rumped Caciques
A species found in South America, from Bolivia to Brazil, Yellow-rumped Caciques (Cacicus cela) are identified by their very bright blue eyes.
This is a trait that tends to stand out as the bird itself is not blue, but black and yellow.
Mostly black, The Yellow-rumped Caciques show a vivid yellow beak, a yellow lower underbelly, and a lower yellow tail.
Yellow sections are also spotted on the lower back of these birds.
The nests of these birds are always built on trees with an existing wasp nest as a food source.
Even more, the nests are known for their elongated bag-like shape. They can be seen on a single tree in their tens.
11. African Bush Viper
The spiny-looking African Bush Viper (Atheris squamigera) is one of the common species of snakes with bright blue eyes in sub-Saharan Africa.
While venomous and aggressive, this snake is not seen as one of the most venomous species on the continent.
Instead, The African Bush Viper and its subspecies are known as mildly hemotoxic.
This is a species that comes in different colors, ranging from bright yellow to gray-blue.
Its yellow-green and gray-blue morphs are normally known for having bright blue eyes with black vertical pupils.
While these morphs are well-established, they are actually rare morphs and sights of The African Bush Viper.
Growing to a maximum length of just over 24 inches, this species is part of a small to medium-sized group of snakes with blue eyes.
12. Blue-eyed Leucistic Ball Python
A very rare morph, The Blue-eyed Leucistic morph of Ball Pythons is still seen in the wilderness but mostly in captivity.
This morph shows a uniform white snake with bright blue eyes.
What makes this snake white and blue? It’s the combination of 2 of 5 selected morphs, which means this appearance is quite rare.
Furthermore, the white morph of the species might not be to the advantage of the snake which becomes easy to spot and a target to various predators.
Native to West Africa and Central Africa, this morph with ice blue eyes might be easier to spot in captivity where selective breeding enhances the chances of seeing it on white with blue eyes.
13. Blue-eye Hermit
A species with various shades of red, Blue-eye Hermits (Paguristes sericeus) are known for their vivid blue eyes.
Small blue eyes are seen on this mostly red species of crab.
Native to The Caribbean, it matches the color of the water with the color of its eyes. Today, The Blue-eye Hermit is mostly common in captivity.
A few things can happen in captivity, including a darkening of its eyes.
Blue-eye Hermits feed on algae but they don’t like captivity as they need both water and land to live and breed.
Instead of living up to 30 years as in the wilderness, captive Blue-eye Hermits only live up to 2 years.
These types of crabs are typically seen in aquariums with corals, although it may cause corals to close temporarily.
14. Common Blue-eye Lady Beetle
Highly atypical coloring is specific to The Common Blue-eye Lady Beetle (Ortalia ochracea).
As its name implies, this species has vivid blue eyes that stand out. Even its faded pink-orange nuance is atypical, and uniform.
The nuance of its blue eyes varies, with age. Mostly bright blue at first, the eyes of the species and the bug itself darkens as the bug ages.
These types of beetles feed on various aphids and aphid nymphs.
They are also one of the most common types of prey for spiders, especially since their bright color makes them stand out.
Unlike other blue-eyed bugs, this is a species with dark central spots and black margins to its blue eye rings, making it appear as if having 2 pupils.
15. Blue-eyed White Tree Frog
Mostly green, White Tree Frogs come in multiple morphs. One of them includes the Blue-eyed White Tree Frog.
This is a morph showing bright blue eyes and a gray-olive color.
Often spotted on trees under the color matching of tree bark, these morphs lack complicated patterns and appear to be almost pattern-free, especially on the ventral side.
Native to Australia, Blue-eyed White Tree Frogs may sometimes show multiple white dots across the dorsum.
While not recommended to be handled with bare hands, the frogs are often handled directly as they are prized in captivity for their bright blue eyes.
16. Handsome Meadow Katydid
A species of The Americas, The Handsome Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum pulchellum) is among the most widespread and overlooked species with blue eyes.
This is a type of katydid named after its rather multicolored appearance, as it’s not plain green like other katydids.
Red, dark brown, green, and blue colors are seen across its wings and body.
Even its eyes are blue!
There’s a bright blue nuance specific to its eyes which are contrasted by the dark red upper head and antennae while the lower head and face are bright.
This is a species that lives in different areas with vegetation, including North America.
It feeds on different types of flowers which it visits for pollen as well as on some of the softest or youngest plant leaves.
While unique-looking, this bug additionally stands out with its noises. It makes different types of noises as a means of communication.
17. American Horse Fly
One of the most common insects with blue eyes that bites is The American Horse Fly (Tabanus americanus).
Females of the species bite to lay eggs. They bite both animals and humans and can transfer diseases.
These flies are to be avoided as they can transfer bacteria that cause worms in animals and humans.
When it comes to their appearance, these large flies have large compound eyes that come in different colors, including a blue nuance.
Most commonly, however, American Horse Flies are seen in green, black, or green-blue eye nuances.
Some of the areas where the flies are prevalent include areas with plenty of flowers for pollen as well as areas with animals.
Keeping them away can prove challenging. Spraying insecticide preventively around the garden or on farms may be among the few proven methods of keeping these biting flies with blue eyes away.
18. Rabbit
Rabbits come in different colors and varying eye coloring. They have bright blue eyes when they descend from The White Vienna. Polish rabbits are also among the different specimens with blue eyes.
One of the representative rabbit species with blue eyes is The Blue-eyed White.
Like different other species, it comes in white and brown colors, as well as in different color combinations.
This breed, like others with blue eyes, can be obtained from parents with The Vienna gene. Both males and females need to have this gene for the offspring to come out with blue eyes.
Many rabbits with blue eyes are raised in captivity, for their attractive coloring and friendly-looking aesthetics.
These rabbits are fed hay and vegetables, among other types of food.
Pellets are among the most common types of foods fed to blue-eyed rabbits bred in captivity, especially in urban areas.
19. Mountain Lion
Mountain Lions come in different names and impress with their blue eyes in their infant days.
All cougars or mountain lions are born with deep blue eyes. This is a color that changes and becomes duller as the species matures.
Despite what looks like a fearsome animal that may only be seen in zoos, mountain lions are the most common type of mammal to walk on land on a few continents.
This is a species known for its agile hunting skills and for its nocturnal habits.
On occasion, mountain lions are also seen looking for food in the early morning.
So what does an actual young blue-eyed mountain lion look like?
It looks like a miniature cougar or a wild cat with the exception of the tail which also has rings on it, as opposed to the tail of the adult mountain lion.
The age of these young cougars can also be approximated based on the shade of their blue eyes.
When born, they have dark blue eyes. Within months, their eyes convert to a bright blue nuance.
20. Leopard
Just like humans, leopards have different eye colors but are dominated by amber eye nuances.
Some exceptions apply, including on leopards with blue eyes!
While rare, blue-eyed leopards have been confirmed in India.
Often subject to various debates, these types of leopards are generally accepted as exceptions and as cubs.
It’s only the young leopards in some parts of India, such as in The Aravali region, can come with blue eyes.
Much like mountain lions, these leopards start life with dark blue eyes. In fact, they have closed their eyes in their first few weeks before revealing their blue eyes.
Some other areas where blue-eyed young leopard can be spotted includes The Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya, one of the areas of the world with the largest number of leopards.
Still, both the African and Kenyan populations of blue-eyed leopards are believed to be very small.
21. White Tiger
White Tigers are among the large animals with blue eyes even in adulthood.
This is a subspecies of The Mainland Tiger with a color gene that keeps them mostly white, or white and black.
Their eyes remain bright blue from an early age into late adulthood.
Both white tiger males and females are needed for a young blue-eyed White Tiger.
This is a species that’s most common in India, with an increasing presence in zoos across the world.
Unlike The Mainland Tiger, White Tigers are a bit different when it comes to their susceptibility to diseases.
The blue eyes themselves are highly likely to be cross-eyed in these tigers compared to Mainland Tigers.
Red and yellow pigments aren’t produced by these tigers but their eyes are always blue, unlike in Mainland Tigers.
22. Blue-eyed Black Lemurs
Native to Madagascar, Blue-eyed Black Lemurs (Eulemur flavifrons) are some of the largest animals with blue eyes in the world.
Mostly popularized through zoos, these types of animals come in black or brown colors.
They are known for their blue eyes in different shades of blue!
From dark blue to electric nuances, the blue eyes of the species stand out immediately.
An arboreal species, The Blue-eyed Black Lemur is among the most common type of animals in Madagascar. It also helps the ecosystem by spreading plant and fruit trees.
It feeds on entire fruits but it doesn’t digest them completely, spreading the seed in its natural habitat.
Large, common around the world, and blue-eyed, this lemur faces an uncertain future in its own habitat.
This is a species that loses its forests and its natural habitat in Madagascar.
23. Siberian Husky
One of the most popular dogs with blue eyes is the Siberian Husky.
This is a type of dog of the spitz genus with bright blue eyes, black eyes, or brown eyes.
All of these nuances are accepted for the official breed. Even more, Siberian Huskies may only have one blue eye while the other one can be brown or black.
Recognized by their thick coat and tail, these types of dogs used to be specifically bred as sled dogs.
They used their pulling power and energy to pull sleighs in some of the coolest areas of Northern Asia and Siberia.
While highly useful outdoors, these dogs are recommended indoors or for beginner dog owners.
High and very high energy levels mean these dogs need plenty of daily exercises, often hours at a time.
A typical species that likes to run around, huskies don’t do great in confined spaces either.
Used to the wide open land of Northern Asia their ancestors used to inhabit, these blue-eyed dogs are also smarter than others when it comes to making an escape.
24. Dalmatian Dog
A long history is specific to Dalmatians, a dog species that may also come with blue eyes.
This is a species that may only show blue eyes as a result of a genetic predisposition.
Ultimately, the presence of blue eyes may also be tied to deafness in Dalmatians.
In these circumstances, blue-eyed Dalmatian dogs aren’t normally displayed in dog shows and aren’t even recommended for breeding.
Dalmatian dogs came a long way from what is believed to be a pointer history in its early days.
Originating from The Dalmatia region of Croatia, these dogs
25. Horse
Horses are some of the largest animals to have blue eyes.
It’s unclear which gene is responsible for their blue color in different horse breeds.
By rough estimates, horses with white spots or white horses are likelier to have blue eyes. Still, cream-colored horses can also have blue eyes.
Not as uncommon as in other species, blue eyes in horses aren’t necessarily more prone to diseases.
They can be as healthy or as unhealthy as other horses.
26. Siamese Cat
Siamese cats are some of the most common cats in the world. They also have very bright blue eyes, believed to be a result of both genetic and environmental conditions.
These cats are domesticated around the world.
While their exact origin remains unknown, Siamese Cats are traced back to the 14th century.
They are believed to come from the region of Thailand and there are indications to show they have been the preferred species of royalty and dignitaries.
These cats come in cream and gray coats with some degree of variability.
One common trait of their blue eyes is strabismus, a condition that isn’t accepted in show cats.
27. Sphynx Cat
Sphynx Cats are among the typical species with blue eyes in the cat world that are the result of genetic predisposition.
Most Sphynx Cats don’t have blue eyes. However, melanin imbalances are believed to influence the color of their eyes, coat, and nose.
Sphynx Cats are also known for their hairless appearance. While this may seem like an ideal low-maintenance species, the skin of the cats also needs bathing.
Rich in skin oils, the skin of Sphynx Cats requires cleaning.
28. Nigerian Dwarf Goat
A small species that may grow to just over 22 inches, Nigerian Dwarf Goats can sometimes have blue eyes.
These types of goats have been raised for milk production but they also make good pets in families with children due to their friendly nature.
High color variation is mostly specific to their coats, rather than to their eyes.
Cream, brown, white, black, or spotted, Nigerian Dwarf Goats are also introduced in North America.
They are also raised as pets or for milk in North America where they may also show blue eyes.
The base blue nuance is bright with a distinctive horizontal black pupil.
Only a small number of Nigerian Dwarf Goats live in The United States where they are known for high milk yield given their reduced stature.
29. Blue-eyed Cuscus
This small arboreal species (Phalanger matabiru) is known for always having a surprised face and large blue and black eyes.
Bright and dark blue nuances are specific to Indonesia and New Guinea.
Its numbers, in the wild, are very low. Its populations only remain constant on Supiori Island due to the reduced economic activity and human activity here.
The exact number of Blue-eyed Cuscuses in the wild remains unknown. By some estimates, only hundreds of these marsupials remain in the wilderness.
The loss of the natural habitat of these blue-eyed marsupials is tied to economic impact through deforestation.