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Blue Jay | |
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The Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is one of the easiest Eastern United States feeder birds to recognize. It is bright blue above and grayish white below, with a crest and a black collar and necklace. The blue jay can raise or lower its crest. The wings and tail are black and white. The male and the female are similar in appearance.
The Scrub jay that inhabits the Southern United States is bluish gray above and gray below. It has a blue breast band and does not have a crest.
The Steller’s Jay is dark colored, almost black on the crest, upper body and front parts. It is blue or purplish on the lower body and tail, with black bars on the wings and tail. It is common in the Western United States and Western Canada.
The Blue Jay’s range extends throughout the Eastern United States and Southern Canada. The western edge of this range runs along the Rocky Mountains down into the center of Texas and up into Saskatchewan, Canada and over into the center of Alberta.
The Scrub Jay can be found throughout the Southeastern United States, west of the Rockies and north as far as central Wyoming, southern Idaho and Oregon.
The Steller’s Jay lives west of the Rockies, up into Canada’s British Columbia and down into Mexico.
Blue Jays enjoy nuts, particularly acorns. They peck the cap off this nut and either eat the meat inside or store it for later. They also eat insects, fruit, and the eggs and nestlings of other birds.
Studies at feeding stations reveal that blue jays prefer sunflower seeds (black oil and striped), corn (whole and cracked), and peanuts. They will also eat suet and bread. They prefer to eat on the ground or on platform feeders. Blue Jays can quickly empty a platform feeder of their favorite foods.
Jays are known to store or cache food for later consumption.
The behavior and vocalization of Blue Jays changes throughout the year. In late winter, when courtship begins, you may see several males following a female. This courtship usually starts with one female near the bottom of a tree and moving towards the top with several males following and giving varying calls. Some of the calls are mellow sounding, like “tool, tool” and others are the more raucous “jay, jay.” Once Jays are paired they usually settle down and quiet down. Mate feeding is common, with the male bringing a seed or nut to the female, to which she usually responds with a soft “kuet, kuet” call and may sometimes flap her wings and fluff out her body feathers.
For most of the rest of the year Jays are fairly quiet, unless they are threatened. In the fall they sometimes form large groups that search for food together. One behavior they are known for is mimicking other birds. They often imitate hawks, possibly as a warning to other birds that a predator is near.
The nesting season lasts from March through July. The nest is made of mostly of twigs that the birds break from trees. It is usually lined with leaves, bark, mosses and fine rootlets. It is normally built in a tree but may be found in bushes or vines. One brood of nestlings is raised per year, starting with four or five greenish colored eggs with brown spots. The eggs are incubated for 17 to 18 days by both parents, with fledging at 17 to 21 days from hatching.
Providing the Blue Jay’s favorite seeds (see diet) in a sturdy platform style feeder as well as providing water is a good start to attracting this colorful bird to your yard. Water can be as important as food in attracting birds to your yard, particularly during the winter when most water is frozen. You can offer water in a birdbath, pan or even a trash can lid. To keep water unfrozen during the winter you will need to invest in a small electric immersion heater. These devices are designed to turn off when the water has dried up, and you will hardly notice the cost on your electric bill. Remember to never use antifreeze in birdbaths, as it is toxic to birds and animals.
Also consider the Blue Jay’s preference for acorns and oak woodlands. Other trees and bushes that will help create an ideal habitat for Blue Jays and other song birds include Ash, Cherries, Crabapple, Dogwood, Elderberry, Fir trees, Fringe trees, Hawthorn, Holly, Pine, Plum, Viburnums, and Walnut.
Happy Birding!