Blue jays are small-to-medium-sized birds, being around 9 to 12 inches (21 to 30 centimeters) in length and weighing somewhere between 13 to 17 inches (34 – 43 inches). The blue jay has a noticeable crown on its head, a crest covered in feathers. These feathers change in position as the bird’s disposition changes.
What is the personality of a blue jay?
The blue jay is a bird you’ll come to either love or hate. They’re loud, aggressive, boisterous bullies who threaten smaller birds. They’re also beautiful and highly intelligent, and their complicated behaviors may actually save other birds from predators.
What other bird looks like a blue jay?
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays rarely overlap with Blue Jays, but they can readily be separated by the lack of a crest, white wingbars, and black necklace. © Chris Wood | Macaulay Library Colorado, November 22, 2012 View Full Species Account
Why are Blue Jays so noisy?
There are 3 common reasons for noisy Jay behavior:
- During the courtship: noisy groups of male jays will follow their desired friends as they make loud and raucous phone calls.
- During predator defense: groups of jays gather around hawks and owls to bully and scold the source of danger.
- Young jays in late summer/autumn: make extremely noisy begging phone calls to lure food from their parents.
How do you tell a male blue jay from a female?
- Male blue Jays are physically longer and larger in appearance than female blue Jays. ...
- The length of the male blue Jays measures somewhat around thirty centimetres or 11.8 inches. On the other hand, the length of the female blue Jays measures around 25-28 centimetres.
- At the time of the occurrence of courtship, a bunch of blue Jay’s males follows a bunch of female blue Jays. ...
- The main work of male blue Jays, which differentiate them from female Blue Jays is that they hunt and search for food for their female counterpart. ...
- At the time of mating, the male blue Jays try to win the attention of a female blue Jay. Hence the male jays are seen bristling their feathers. ...
What bird is mistaken for a Blue Jay?
Examples of birds that look like blue jays include belted kingfisher, black-throated blue warbler, blue grosbeak, blue-gray tanager, and California scrub-jay. There are many different types of birds in the world, and although they all look unique, some of them can be mistaken for other types of birds.
How can you identify a Blue Jay?
Adult. Blue above and white below, with a prominent crest and a bold black necklace. The wings and tail are barred with black, and it has a bold white wingbar.
Where are Blue Jays most commonly found?
It lives in most of the eastern and central United States; some eastern populations may be migratory. Resident populations are also in Newfoundland, Canada; breeding populations are found across southern Canada. It breeds in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and is common in residential areas.
How do you tell the difference between a Blue Jay and a bluebird?
Blue Jays. Much larger than Eastern bluebirds, blue jays measure 11 to 12 inches. Like the bluebirds, they have blue backs, but also look for a gray breast, robust bill, and a crest, or pointy tuft of head feathers. Males and females are nearly identical.
What does it mean when a blue jay visits you?
It is a potent animal totem. Messages from a blue jay are a sign that you will be victorious over your enemies and overcome all obstacles. For those of us who believe in truth, the sight of this lovely bird is a powerful reminder that we are on the correct path.
What attracts blue jays to your yard?
Nuts are a particular favorite, including peanuts offered whole or already shelled. Suet, mealworms, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds are other great options to attract jays, and natural food sources such as small fruits and berries—elderberries, cherries, wild grapes, blackberries, etc.
Are blue jays friendly to humans?
Blue Jays are such feisty, clever birds and aren't afraid of humans. In fact, they're one of the most intelligent birds you'll see in your backyard. They're members of the corvid family, including other jay species such as Steller's Jays, ravens, crows, and magpies.
Do blue jays recognize humans?
Ravens and other members of the corvid family (crows, jays, and magpies) are known to be intelligent. They can remember individual human faces, expertly navigate human environments (like trash cans), and they even hold funerals for their dead.
What food do blue jays like?
Omnivorous. Most of diet is vegetable matter (up to 75% of diet for year, higher percentage in winter), including acorns, beechnuts, and other nuts, many kinds of seeds, grain, berries, small fruits, sometimes cultivated fruits.
Where do jay birds live?
Lives in both deciduous and coniferous woodland, parks and mature gardens. Likes oak trees in autumn when there are plenty of acorns. Often seen flying across a woodland glade giving its screeching call, it becomes more obvious in autumn when it may fly some distance in the open in search of acorns.
How do you attract blue jays?
7 Proven Ways to Attract Blue Jays to Your YardOffer their favorite foods.Use a Blue-Jay-friendly feeder.Have water available.Plant fruit-bearing shrubs.Plant nut-bearing trees.Go organic.Keep kitty inside.
What is the spiritual meaning of a bluebird?
The bluebird is a symbol of hope, love, and renewal and is also a part of many Native American legends. It symbolizes the essence of life and beauty. Dreaming of bluebirds often represents happiness, joy, fulfillment, hope, prosperity, and good luck.
How do you tell the difference between a male blue jay and a female blue jay?
The only way to tell male from female blue jays apart from one another is to observe their behavior. You can distinguish males from females by seeing which birds court the other birds (the males court the females), and which birds brood the eggs (the female will incubate the eggs).
What does a male and female blue jay look like?
Male blue Jays are physically longer and larger in appearance than female blue Jays. On the other hand, female blue Jays are comparatively smaller and shorter in appearance than male blue Jays. The length of the male blue Jays measures somewhat around thirty centimetres or 11.8 inches.
Are blue jays friendly to humans?
Blue Jays are such feisty, clever birds and aren't afraid of humans. In fact, they're one of the most intelligent birds you'll see in your backyard. They're members of the corvid family, including other jay species such as Steller's Jays, ravens, crows, and magpies.
Are there different types of blue jays?
Blue jaySteller's jayCyanocitta/Lower classifications
Where do blue jays live?
Blue Jays are birds of forest edges. A favorite food is acorns, and they are often found near oaks, in forests, woodlots, towns, cities, parks .
What do blue jays eat?
The wings and tail are barred with black, and it has a bold white wingbar. Blue Jays often come to feeders where they eat many types of seeds, especially sunflower. They hold seeds between their feet and hammer them open. Note the mostly blue tail with white tips, which can be distinctive in flight.
What bird is smaller than a crow?
Large crested songbird with broad, rounded tail. Blue Jays are smaller than crows, larger than robins. White or light gray underneath, various shades of blue, black, and white above. Blue Jays make a large variety of calls that carry long distances. Most calls produced while the jay is perched within a tree.
What bird has a white tail?
Large white tail corners are prominent in flight, along with a black necklace and white underparts. Jays are noisy birds; this one is visibly agitated and calling frequently along with chickadees, cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and other birds.
Do blue jays fly?
Most calls produced while the jay is perched within a tree. Usually flies across open areas silently, especially during migration. Stuffs food items in throat pouch to cache elsewhere; when eating, holds a seed or nut in feet and pecks it open.
1. Mountain Bluebird
As the name suggests, it’s a small migratory thrush from the mountain territory. The Mountain Bluebirds can be found in Western North America’s mountain districts, grasslands, and spread out trees and shrubs areas. These species migrate to Mexico and western Canada during the winter.
2. Indigo Bunting
The small Indigo Bunting is a migratory bird from the Cardinal family. This bird can be found in South American territory during the winter. And their preferred living places are brush areas, woodland, farmlands, and forest edges. However, Indigo Bunting’s breeding areas are Florida. Texas, and Canada.
4. California Scrub-Jay
The California Scrub-Jay is a medium-large bird native to western North America. Southern British Columbia, western Nevada, and California are the usual places to find them. They prefer oak woodlands, backyards, pastures, and orchards for living.
5. Canada Jay
Another member of the family of Jay that has similarities with our Blue Jay is Canada Jay. It’s a passerine bird found in New Mexico, Arizona, and spread throughout northern North America. The Canad Jay prefers boreal forest and high mountain areas.
6. Green Jay
The Green Jay is part of the new world jay species. This bird is native to southern Texas, Honduras, and other Central American areas. The Green Jay prefers thickets, parks, and woodland areas for living.
7. Florida Scrub-Jay
The Florida Scrub-Jay is a member of the scrub jay native to the North American Territory. They’re also known as Florida Scrub-Jay as this bird species specially lives in Florida. You will find them in low-growing oak and scrubby Flatwoods.
9. Pinyon Jay
The Pinyon jay is another member of the Jay family that has similarities with our Blue Jay. This bird species are residents from southwestern Dacota, central Oregon, a few areas of Arizona, California, western Oklahoma, and central New Mexico.
What is a blue jay?
The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is of the order Passeriformes, which is what we call a perching bird or a songbird. Most of the birds you see around your backyard are passerine birds, such as cardinals, sparrows, and chickadees. Indeed more than half of all bird species fall into this order.
Where is the Northern Blue Jay found?
Northern blue jay: Found in the Northeastern United States and Canada.
What is the name of the pouch that blue jays hide food in?
Blue jays cache their food like a squirrel and hide it for another time. They carry food off for storage packed in their throat in what's called a gular pouch.
How do blue jays chase other birds?
The blue jay may chase other birds away from food sources, either by sheer aggression or by employing a mob assault with a group of birds. This may seem like a mean streak in their personality, but it is, in fact, a solid survival strategy used by many intelligent wild animals.
Why are blue jays so able to manipulate?
Blue Jay Behaviors. When it comes to interaction with other birds, the blue jay has a bit of an image problem. Because of their high levels of intelligence, they are able to manipulate situations to their advantage, particularly when working in a group.
How many chicks do jays hatch?
Both sexes participate in the building of the nest in the springtime and the male will bring food to the female as she incubates them. Six or eight chicks will hatch out after a few weeks, and follow the parents around as they learn the ways of the jay.
What is the biggest threat to blue jays?
Nest Predation. This is probably the biggest strike against the blue jay. While they will love the seed you put out at your bird feeder, they are omnivores that will also dine on insects, fruit, nuts, and even small animals. Baby birds of other species may be attacked and consumed in their nests, as well as eggs.
What is the difference between a bluebird and a blue jay?
A Bluebird has a red-brown chest, whereas; the Blue Jays have a white or a grey chest. Bluebirds are tiny in size; their size range is between 6.5 and 8.5 inches compared to the Blue Jays, which are large-sized birds with a length of 10-12 inches.
What Are The Types Of Birds That Resemble Blue Jays?
Bluebirds are also passerine birds, but they belong to the thrust family. They are primarily found in eastern North America in states such as Canada and Mexico. People believe that bluebirds are eye-pleasing because of their colors.
Why do blue jays build more than one nest?
Unlike other birds, Blue Jays construct more than one nest because if an intruder invades their privacy and sense a threat in the environment, they instantly shift to the next nest.
Why do blue jays lower their crests?
Blue Jays lower their crests when they give food to their young ones who cannot fly and fetch food themselves.
What color are scrub jays?
However, the western scrub-jays are mostly blue except that their back is brown and are grey from underneath. Both of them have a white throat.
How big should a blue jay nest?
Since these birds are large, they would be more comfortable nesting in an area that is at least 8 inches square and is open from above.
How big are Steller's birds?
Both of these birds have crests and are between 11-13 inches in length. Steller’s color can help you quickly identify them as they are primarily black from above, with dark blue plumage. In comparison, the Blue Jays have a grey breast and white spots on the wings and tail.
How to tell the difference between bluebirds and blue jays?
Males and females are nearly identical. One way to tell these difference between bluebirds vs blue jays is by listening. The jays make their presence known in the backyard with raucous squawks. It’s as though they like attention and don’t take kindly to being ignored! Jays eagerly raid bird feeders for sunflower seed and are especially fond ...
How big are blue jays?
Blue Jays. Much larger than Eastern bluebirds, blue jays measure 11 to 12 inches. Like the bluebirds, they have blue backs, but also look for a gray breast, robust bill, and a crest, or pointy tuft of head feathers. Males and females are nearly identical.
What bird has a blue head?
Eastern Bluebirds. Eastern bluebirds are smaller songbirds vs blue jays, about 7 inches, with a blue head, back and wings, a rusty-orange breast and a white belly. Females have more subdued colors. They will visit your yard for mealworms and suet feeders, as well as berries in winter. Follow these tips to attract bluebirds.
Where do bluebirds live?
Like blue jays, eastern bluebirds are present year-round in the eastern United States. Their range extends north in summer. In the Rocky Mountains and beyond, look for mountain and western bluebirds. Eastern bluebirds prefer wide open spaces like meadows or agricultural fields.
Where to look for Steller's jays?
In western parts of the country, look for Steller’s jays and California scrub-jays.
Do bluebirds use nest boxes?
Bluebirds are cavity nesters, and they will use nest boxes. Here’s how to make a DIY bluebird house. “Eastern bluebirds are so beautiful and entertaining. My husband and I love feeding them and watching them hop around our rural yard,” says Lucinda Moriarty of East Hampton, Connecticut. Courtesy John Pizniur.
What color is the blue jay's bill?
Blue Jay. Note the strong, straight bill and the crest which can be raised or lowered at will. The pale-blue iridescent patches in the wing can glitter or look dull, depending on the angle of light. Blue above and white below, with a prominent crest and a bold black necklace.
What is a jay bird?
Jays are noisy birds ; this one is visibly agitated and calling frequently along with chickadees, cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and other birds. It's likely they've discovered an owl or hawk and are mobbing it to try to make it leave.
What do blue jays eat?
Adult (with Red-winged Blackbird) Blue Jays often come to feeders where they eat many types of seeds, especially sunflower. They hold seeds between their feet and hammer them open.
What color are the wings of a squid?
The pale-blue iridescent patches in the wing can glitter or look dull, depending on the angle of light. Blue above and white below, with a prominent crest and a bold black necklace. The wings and tail are barred with black, and it has a bold white wingbar.
How to tell if a blue jay is a bird?
The bird is hard to miss thanks to its bright blue markings and a loud jayyy jayyy call. Telltale signs that you’re seeing a blue jay are white wing-bars and a jaunty crest of feathers. This bird doesn’t need much coaxing to visit and will stop by most seed or suet feeders.
Where can I find green jays in Texas?
Green Jay. A highlight of the birding hotspot of Brownsville, Texas, this tropical jay is expanding its range, with sightings all the way to Laredo, Corpus Christi and even San Antonio, almost 300 miles north.
What do Canada jays eat?
Endearingly tame and undeniably cute, these types of jays, formerly known as gray jays, don’t look or act like other jays! Fluffy gray and white, with a small bill suited to twisting off meat, Canada jays live in boreal, coniferous forests of the far North and high in the western mountains. So tame that they will eat right from a human hand, these jays are famed for approaching hikers, hunters and campers. Meat is what they want, or bread, suet and other soft foods, which they cache in bark or branches, not in the soil. Nuts and seeds at feeders are less appealing to them. These calm jays tend to be more silent than their kin. It’s other nesting birds that sound the alarm when one comes near, because nestlings are just more meat to a Canada jay.
What do jays eat?
Meat is what they want, or bread, suet and other soft foods, which they cache in bark or branches, not in the soil. Nuts and seeds at feeders are less appealing to them.
What is the main food of scrub jays?
Housing development has been tough on this federally recognized endangered species as its homelands of scrub oak slowly disappear or are carved into ever smaller pieces. Acorns are Florida scrub-jays’ main food—a single bird may cache 6,000 or more each year. Feeders stocked with peanuts help sustain these types of jays.
What is the loudest bird in the corvidae family?
Whether you think they're brilliant or bullies, there's plenty to discover about these clever corvids. Learn about blue jays and other common jay species. Jays are the loudest and flashiest of the corvidae family, which also includes crows, ravens, and magpies. They’re also considered to be among the most intelligent species of the bird world.
What is a scrub jay?
California Scrub-Jay. Two nearly look-alike types of jays, the California scrub-jay of coastal regions and Woodhouse’ s scrub-jay of the interior, are common across lower elevations of the West. These bold, crestless blue-and-gray jays frequent shrubby areas and backyards. Both make scolding cries and sing sweet, quiet, ...
The Beautiful Blue Jay
Classification
- The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is of the order Passeriformes, which is what we call a perching bird or a songbird. Most of the birds you see around your backyard are passerine birds, such as cardinals, sparrows, and chickadees. Indeed more than half of all bird species fall into this order. From there, we can further divide them into the family Corvidae, which is commonly known as th…
Range and Habitat
- The blue jay is found throughout the Eastern and Central United States and north into South-central and Southeast Canada. It is an abundant species and thrives in various habitats and settings. The species is divided into four subspecies: 1. Northern blue jay:Found in the Northeastern United States and Canada. 2. Coastal blue jay:Found from North Carolina to Texas…
Breeding and Nesting
- One of the interesting things about the blue jay is that males and females pair up for life. Since they are (usually) not migratory, they remain in their range year-round; for the most part, they are not territorial with other jays. (They are, however, highly territorial with other bird species) Both sexes participate in building the nest in the springtime, and the male will bring food to the femal…
Blue Jay-Proof Bird Feeders
- Blue jays are definitely bullies at the feeder, and the only thing that might chase them away is a squirrel or chipmunk. Occasionally they’ll give way to a bigger bird such as a grackle or crow, but usually, they’ll take the place over, and where there is one, there is usually more. They love sunflower seeds, but they’ll also take shelled and whole peanuts, pieces of fruit, bread, and just a…
Blue Jay Behaviors
- When it comes to interaction with other birds, the blue jay has a bit of an image problem. Because of their high intelligence levels, they can manipulate situations to their advantage, particularly when working in a group. Some of their behaviors have led researchers to see them as undesirable species in some areas. Here’s a look at some of the issues. You be the judge!
Aggressive Behaviors
- The blue jay may chase other birds away from food sources, either by sheer aggression or by employing a mob assault with a group of birds. This may seem like a mean streak in their personality, but it is, in fact, a solid survival strategy used by many intelligent wild animals. While the average sparrow may not appreciate it, this “mob mentality” comes in handy when fending of…
Communication and Mimicking
- If you listen to blue jays for any amount of time, you may be amazed by the range of vocalizations they employ. Some are meant as communication between birds, but they are also able to mimic hawks in order to drive off other animals. Again, there may be a positive side to this boisterous personality. They are often the first bird to sound the alarm when predators arrive on the scene. …
Nest Predation
- This is probably the biggest strike against the blue jay. While they will love the seed you put out at your bird feeder, they are omnivores that will also dine on insects, fruit, nuts, and even small animals. Baby birds—and even eggs—of other species may be attacked and consumed in their nests. Some see this as a good argument against birdfeeders. Naturally, this makes the blue jay …
More Interesting Facts
- Can’t get enough of this interesting blue bird? Here are a few more facts: 1. Blue jays cache their food like a squirrel and hide it for another time. They carry food off for storage packed in their throat in what’s called a gular pouch. 2. They can bury acorns, seeds, and nuts and then remember where they are later on. But not every seed is recovered, and some grow into trees. In other word…