Their name appears to have been derived from that of the Columbus Red Birds, the top-level minor league baseball team that played in the American Association from 1931 through 1954.
Columbus was an associate team to the first Negro National League in 1931.:5
The Blue Birds, which were one of the five founder members of the second incarnation of the Negro National League, were organized under the ownership of WJ Peebles of Columbus.
Peebles was reported to have built up "a formidable aggregation" and one that was fast growing in favor in the capital city.
Several players, who formerly wore the colors of the Homestead Grays and Kansas City Monarchs had been added to the Birds' roster for their first season.