What is the Difference Between a Bluebird & a Bluejay?

Blue jays and Eastern bluebirds are both named for their brilliant blue coloring. Although they inhabit much of the same area of North America, blue jays and Eastern bluebirds are very different species of birds. These two species differ in size, habitat and diet preferences. They also tend to exhibit different behaviors.

  1. Appearance

    • Blue jays can reach between 10 and 12 inches long, with a wingspan of 13 to 17 inches. By contrast, Eastern bluebirds are a smaller species of bird, with a length of 6.3 to 8.3 inches, and a wingspan of 9.8 to 12.6 inches. The top of a blue jay is a rich blue with black markings, while their underside is white. Eastern bluebirds are a lighter shade of blue, with orange on their breast and white below. Blue jays have crests on the top of their heads, and large, strong beaks, while eastern bluebirds have small beaks and no crests.

    Habitat

    • Blue jays tend to inhabit the central and eastern parts of North America, however they are starting to inhabit areas further westward. They prefer to live farming areas, evergreen forests, groves, and even suburbs. Unlike many birds, the blue jay doesn't tend to migrate. On the other hand, eastern bluebirds mostly inhabit areas in the Southeastern part of the United States. During the summer breeding months, eastern bluebirds go North to mate, so their range does extend nearly as far as the blue jay. However, blue birds tend to like more open areas, such as fields and clearings.

    Behavior

    • Blue jays often exhibit aggressive behavior towards other birds. At times, they will even eat eggs and chicks from other birds nests. They are intelligent birds, as in captivity have shown with their use of tools to reach inaccessible food. Blue jays calls are loud and harsh. Although they are technically songbirds, they most commonly make abrupt, noisy sounds. When they are sense danger, they imitate a hawk's call to signal other blue jays. Eastern bluebird's calls are low, warbling songs. When they sense danger approaching on the ground, they make loud chit-chit-chit sounds.

    Diet

    • The majority of blue jays' diets consist of nuts, seeds and acorns, which their strong beaks allow them to eat. Occasionally, they also eat insects, which provide them with protein. Eastern bluebirds rely mostly on insects, like earthworms and beetles for nourishment. However, one-third of their diet consists of wild fruits, which they eat in the winter when insects are hard to find. Eastern bluebirds will rarely be found eating food from a bird feeder, while blue jays are known for being bullies at the bird feeder.