Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
- HABITAT - Blue jays live in deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests throughout the eastern and central nited States, and southern Canada. They can also be found in parks and suburban residential areas, and are frequent guests of backyard bird feeders. Some blue jays are permanent residents of their range, but others will form into flocks and may migrate southwards.
- DIET - A Blue Jay’s diet is mainly vegetable matter including nuts, seeds, grain, berries, small fruits. They will also eat insects, spiders, snails, birds' eggs, and may rarely eat small rodents, frogs, baby birds or carrion.
- FACTS - Blue Jays can make a variety of sounds and it is common to hear them mimicking hawks. Their famous 'jay' call may be used as a warning for other birds of predators. They will also occasionally use these calls to scare other birds away from food sources that the blue jays have come across.
- Blue Jays are very social birds and often hang out in small flocks. They have been known to be aggressive towards other birds and can dominate backyard feeders. Jays can be very protective of their nest and will attack with loud calls if the nest is threatened by a predator.
- We were once surprised to witnessed a Blue Jay being chase by a usually timid Mourning Dove when it got too close the the dove's nest. However, a few minutes later, the Blue Jay returned with a band of about 6 other Jays and gave the dove quite a punishing chase for her previous actions.
Blue Jay GALLERY
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