Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight family bonds. Blue Jays can imitate calls of their predators, especially hawks, and may use these calls to test whether or not these predators are in the area. At feeders they take suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, acorns, and various nuts. Careful observation of behavior is the only way to positively identify male from female blue jays. Additionally they like to eat corn, grains, berries, seeds, insects, and peanuts. 0 2. seeker. Near human habitation, they may incorporate cloth, string, and paper. Their wings and tail have black, sky-blue, and white bars. Blue jays may be divided into four or more subspecies, depending upon how they are classified. The birds rub ants on their bodies, presumably to soothe their skin until new plumage grows. When one of my neighbors started setting out peanuts near her kitchen window, a pair of jays became regular visitors. The bulk of the jay’s diet consists of fruits, nuts, grains and insects, but it is also known to feed on the eggs and young of other bids. Both females and males look the same. Chances are good you’ve seen this jay the most. After the nest is built, the female will be incubating the eggs, while the male brings her food. This is known as structural coloration. We cover everything from solar power cell technology to climate change to cancer research. Science Trends is a popular source of science news and education around the world. Adult males are slightly larger than females. The differences between male and female blue jays can be determined by observing their mating and nesting habits. Cara Batema is a musician, teacher and writer who specializes in early childhood, special needs and psychology. The RCGS is a registered charity. Its distinctive crest is used as a communication tool to convey the bird’s mood. Male and female Blue Jays are almost identical in appearance. They also eat insects, seeds and grains. The Blue Jay’s feathers are not actually blue. All Rights Reserved. This common, large songbird is familiar to many people, with its perky crest; blue, white, and black plumage; and noisy calls. They’re also quite intelligent, often working together and coordinating with one another to drive off competition or to scare off possible predators. Blue Jays are monogamous, and form long-lasting bonds. These noises also serve to warn each other against possible predators. October 24, 2016 Disponsible en español. Will 5G Impact Our Cell Phone Plans (or Our Health?! Blue jays are omnivorous, so when they get the chance they’ll also eat insects like grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. Blue jay feathers are brown but appear blue due to light interference. It has been found that younger blue jays are more likely to migrate than adults, however it could be that the jays most likely to survive to older age are those that don't migrate as frequently. Some people have theorized that blue jays may migrate if their winter food sources become scarce, or if weather conditions are harsh. Males are just slightly larger than females. It is predominantly blue with a white chest and underparts, and a blue crest; it has a bl… They’re sometimes considered pests by those who would prefer to see a greater variety of birds in their backyard. They are found from the East Coast west to the Rocky Mountains. Scientific name: Cyanocitta cristata Average weight: 70 to 100 g Average height: 30 cm in length from the bill to the tail Average lifespan:7 years Smart wearable devices that could be integrated with the human […], Invasive species are a major driver of global change and their spread leads to the degradation of many natural ecosystems […], Four billion years ago, an interstellar traveler approaching the now-red planet with his spaceship would probably witness beautiful blue skies […], Solar photoactive material like TiO2 has a wide range of applications. If crushed, the blue feathers will turn brown. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22705611A94027257.en, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. 1 decade ago. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight family bonds. The bright cobalt colour is the result of the unique inner structure of the feathers, which distort the reflection of light off the bird, making it look blue. (Keep this in mind if you want to set up a bird feeder for them.). The jay is also known to imitate hawk calls. It breeds in both deciduous and coniferousforests, and is common in residential areas. The eggs may be buff, pale green, or blue. In addition to raptors, blue jays may attack other animals, including humans, which come too close to their nests. Blue jays have a white face with a familiar blue crest on its head that rises up or down depending on the bird’s mood. Blue jays live in deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests throughout the eastern and central areas of the United States, and southern Canada. Some blue jays are permanent residents of their range, but others will form into flocks ranging between 5 and 250 in order to migrate southwards. The only way to tell male from female blue jays apart from one another is to observe their behavior. Blue jays usually congregate in groups of around three to ten individuals. Male and female blue jays are nearly identical. Male and female blue jays have similar coloration. ‘Anting’ is the process of using ants or other materials to preen or clean feathers. Distinguishing characteristics of the blue jay include the pronounced blue crest on their heads, which the blue jay may lower and raise depending on mood, and which will bristle outward when the bird is being aggressive or becomes frightened. They frequently drive off other species of birds, trying to defend its territory. They are frequently preyed upon by birds like hawks and owls. Placing a feeder near shrubbery where birds can seek cover, or a tree where they can sit while they eat, will make the birds feel safer and more comfortable using your feeder. Birds have been known to use odd materials, including lit cigarettes, to ‘ant.’. In addition to seed and grain feeders, blue jays enjoy eating from suet feeders as well. The species name aptly translates as "crested blue chattering bird.". Male and female blue jays are nearly identical. Blue Jays fans had plenty of theories. Blue jays are especially fond of acorns, peanuts, corn, and black oil sunflower seeds. The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to eastern North America. Jays raise and lower their crest feathers as a form of nonverbal communication. The bird has a white face with blue crest, back, wings, and tail. Sign up for our science newsletter! Their unmistakable plumage includes various shades of bright blue on their wings and tails, white or grey underparts, white patches on the wings and … The western edge of the blue jay’s range runs through the Great Plains states. I have a bird feeder just foo of our deck an my wife and I enjoy having coffee and watching the birds in the morning. Their weight, strangely, is then given in inches, and then inches again. It is a partially migratory bird, particularly in the northern parts of its range. Not that there's anything wrong with the Blue Jay, but there is a big, wonderful world of jays out there. If the jay is frightened, the crest bristled out in all directions. Both parents feed the young until they fledge, which occurs between 17 and 21 days after hatching. If the bird is relaxed, the crest is laid flat on the head. Seven Nifty Jays That Aren’t Blue Jays . Blue jays live at the edges of forests, as well as in parks and yards, especially those with oak trees that provide their favorite food, acorns. The Blue Jay is a white-faced bird with a distinctive blue crest, back, wings and tail. The bird has a white face with blue crest, back, wings, and tail. In the western portion of their range, blue jays sometimes hybridize with Steller's jay. Blue jays are highly curious birds, and young blue jays have been known to play with bottle caps and aluminum foil. It can be used in photovoltaic (PV) cells, hydrogen […], Despite stemming from phylogenetic lineages separated by 500 million years of evolution, octopuses and humans surprisingly have a lot in […]. Blue jays will attack humans if they get too close to their nesting areas. Some blue jays migrate, but how they decide when or whether to move south for the winter is not yet understood. By Jenna O'Donnell. Blue jays are large for songbirds, typically measuring between 9 and 12 inches long, and weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 ounces. The Blue Jay has a large range, encompassing a variety of habitats. Interested in Blue Jay Gifts & Decor? Sometimes blue jays cache their food. Blue jays will sometimes eat eggs and nestlings of other birds, but this is rare. Blue jays are large songbirds often identified by their blue bodies and head crests, or sometimes by their noisy calls. Blue jay eggs are speckled with brown or gray. Its cries are used to warn other birds and animals of danger, but are also often used for no apparent reason. Blue Jays that look bald are a result of the adult feeding the young. We love feedback :-) and want your input on how to make Science Trends even better. Blue jays prefer to nest in evergreen trees and shrubs 10 to 35 feet off the ground. Males are just slightly larger than females. Their feathers trap certain wavelengths of light and reflect others due to their structure, and this interference makes them appear blue. How can you discern the difference between the two sexes of blue jays? They vocalize using a wide range of calls and can mimic the calls of hawks and other birds. Blue jays may mimic hawks to warn of the predator's presence or to trick other species, driving them away from food or the nest. There are four subspecies of blue jay: the northern blue jay, which live in Canada and the northern U.S. and has fairly dull plumage and pale blue coloration; the coastal blue jay, which lives on the southern coast of the eastern united states and is vivid blue; the interior blue jay, which lives throughout the midwest U.S.; and the Florida blue jay, the smallest subspecies, which is similar in color to the northern blue jay. Blue jays are omnivorous birds. Look for the female leading the group around, the male birds following her and bobbing their heads to get her attention. It is found from southern Canada to Texas and Florida.