Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Family:

Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens

Size:

Medium

Visits:

Throughout the Year

Behavior:

Perchers

Blue Jay Facts

Among the most easily recognizable songbirds, blue jays have sky-blue wings, crests, and tails. You may hear a blue jay before you see it: quite loud, they scream out jaaaaay and are also expert mimickers, most often copying the calls of hawks, perhaps to warn other jays that a predator is nearby.

Size:

11" Long

Markings:

Blue wings and tail, which are marked with white and black bands. Dark collar around their necks and a blue crest on head. Light gray chest and white belly. A white face and black beak. Males and females are similar in appearance; juveniles are somewhat fluffier, with lighter blue backs than adults.

Habitat:

Found throughout the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains, in wooded areas and at forest edges, as well as in urban parks and gardens.

Behavior:

Blue jays are social creatures and communicate with one another with birdcalls and by raising and lowering their crest, an indication of how aggressive they are feeling. Blue jays nest 10 to 25 feet off the ground, usually in the crotch of a tree, and females lay between 2 and 7 per clutch.

Diet:

Acorns are favorite of blue jays; they also eat nuts, seeds, insects, small vertebrates, and berries.

Vocals:

Blue jays have a large number of calls, but most commonly can be heard emitting a loud, strident jeee and a more melodic, whistling toolily.