Blue Jay

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Blue Jay
Seasonal Distribution
Reproduction
Identification
References
General Info
Photograph by Joel Sartore

• Cyanocitta cristata

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Identification
Blue Jays have blue feathers on upper side of
body with whitish feathers on underside. They
have white patches on wings and tails and a black
band around their necks. Length 11
inches Wingspan 16 inches Weight 3 oz (85g)

• Songs

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General Information

• Order Passeriformes. Family Corvidae.
• The blue color of the feathers are not from a
  pigment, but structural colors created by the
  coherent scattering of light waves
• They have a multipurpose bill, allowing them to
  eat many different types of food, and therefore
  stay in the same general area despite certain
  resource deficiencies. In general, they are
  omnivorous, eating nuts, seed, insects, eggs, and
  even small animals.
• They live in oak and pine woods as well as
  suburban areas.
• They are capable of learned behaviors. After
  eating a poisonous butterfly and vomiting, they
  learn never to eat that type again. They are
  also capable of insight learning, where they
  learn by watching other jays.

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Seasonal Distribution
BBC Map (summer distribution)
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Seasonal Distribution
CBC Map (winter distribution)
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Seasonal Abundance
Figure 1. Seasonal Abundance of Blue Jays
observed during the spring of 2007.
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Songs
The song of a Blue Jay varies but the most common
is a shrill, descending jaaaaay sound. They
also produce a whistling toolili noise as well
as a quiet rattling sound. They also
occasionally learn to mimic Red-tailed,
Red-shouldered, and Broad-winged Hawks.
Toolili call
Jaaaay song
Series of songs
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Reproduction

• Parents are monogamous and stay together
  year-round.
• Nests are built in trees and shrubs usually 10-40
  ft from ground.
• Nest is in the shape of a cup and consists of
  twigs, grass, paper, feathers, and possibly mud.
  It is built by both sexes.
• Eggs are small and vary in color and speckle
  patterns. They are incubated by female for 16-18
  days.
• Nestlings are naked and are fed by both parents.
  They generally leave the nest after 17-21 days,
  but parents may continue to feed them for another
  1-2 months.

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References

• Alcock, J. 2004. Understanding Bird Behavior.
  In Handbook of Bird Biology (S. Podulka, R.
  Rohrbaugh, Jr., and R. Bonney, eds). The Cornell
  Lab of Ornithology New York.
• Baicich, P.J., and C. Harrison. 1997. A Guide
  to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North
  American Birds. Natural World Academic Press
  San Diego.
• Bird Web
• Clark, G.A. 2004. Form and Function The
  External Bird. In Handbook of Bird Biology (S.
  Podulka, R. Rohrbaugh, Jr., and R. Bonney, eds).
  The Cornell Lab of Ornithology New York.
• Evans, H.E. and J.B. Heiser. 2004. Whats
  Inside Anatomy and Physiology. In Handbook of
  Bird Biology (S. Podulka, R. Rohrbaugh, Jr., and
  R. Bonney, eds). The Cornell Lab of
  Ornithology New York.
• Gill, F.B. 2007. Ornithology. W.H. Freeman and
  Company New York.
• Sibley, D.A. 2000. National Audubon Society
  The Sibley Guide to Birds. Chanticleer Press,
  Inc. New York.
• Temple, S.A. 2004. Individuals, Populations,
  and Communities The Ecology of Birds. In
  Handbook of Bird Biology (S. Podulka, R.
  Rohrbaugh, Jr., and R. Bonney, eds). The
  Cornell Lab of Ornithology New York.
• Winkler, D.W. 2004. Nests, Eggs, and Young
  Breeding Biology of Birds. In Handbook of Bird
  Biology (S. Podulka, R. Rohrbaugh, Jr., and R.
  Bonney, eds). The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  New York.

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