Steve Davies struck a late equaliser to earn Derby a point and extend their unbeaten run to five games.
Davies diverted a Nacer Barazite free-kick beyond Maik Taylor.
Roy Carroll saved Mehdi Nafti's first-minute strike but could not prevent Quincy Owusu-Abeyie brilliantly putting Birmingham ahead with a fierce strike.
Derby's Miles Addison narrowly missed and Paul Green forced a save from Taylor, while Garry O'Connor shot wide for Blues before Davies struck.
Derby boss Paul Jewell:
"I think for effort, determination and guts we deserved something from the game.
"We showed great character. We didn't create millions of chances but I don't think they did.
"If we can add a bit of creativity to our game then we'll definitely be heading in the right direction."
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish:
"When you surrender the lead at that stage of the game it feels like dropped points.
"But it's a tough venue to come, and Derby have been getting some good results lately. They took some risks in the second half and got their rewards.
"I'm disappointed we didn't show more composure and on the counter attack we could have been more decisive."
Derby: Carroll, Connolly, Leacock, Albrechtsen (Nyatanga 18), Stewart, Barazite, Green, Addison, Pearson (Davies 55), Hulse, Villa (Ellington 59).
Subs Not Used: Bywater, Kazmierczak.
Booked: Connolly, Leacock, Addison.
Goals: Davies 87.
Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Parnaby, Ridgewell, Jaidi, Murphy, Nafti, Carsley, Agustien, Owusu-Abeyie (Phillips 81), McFadden (O'Connor 60), Jerome (Bent 70).
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Martin Taylor.
Goals: Owusu-Abeyie 26.
Att: 29,743
Ref: Michael Oliver (Northumberland). Make your Championship predictions
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