Blue Bird was introduced in 1958 with pattern number S3274 on Marlborough shape. The design originates from a much earlier date when it is recorded in the Spode Pattern Book with pattern number B520 and dates from about 1838. It would than have been known just by its number.

The design has been used in many versions with different colours over the years and became known as Cherry Picker . A popular version of this with pattern number S3226 was introduced in 1957. The design was also combined with a sheet pattern to produce a pattern George III with pattern number 2/7342 in the 1920s.

In the 1950s Hans Fuchs, the son of the proprietor of Fuchs-Greven, the specialist retail shop in Dusseldorf, developed a new colouring whilst he was on a three month stay at the Spode manufactory. The new colouring used a rich ultramarine blue, rich yellow and a subtle green after the style of traditional Dutch tin-glazed ware. It is this much-loved version which was named Blue Bird.