Blue Jay Bird Information

The blue jay is a large songbird with noisy calls. Its feather colors include lavender-blue to mid-blue that extend from the head to mid-back. Wing feathers and its tail sport black, blue and white bars. The feather’s internal structure acts like a prism with a refractive quality that gives a blue appearance. The crested head has a black collar that winds around the side of the head. The bird’s underside is off-white.

  1. Distribution

    • Distribution of the blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) ranges throughout eastern and central North America, from Newfoundland to Florida, Texas to the Midwest and eastern Colorado.

    Habitat

    • The adaptable blue jay inhabits mixed forests, woodlots, gardens, parks, towns and cities. With acorns as a favorite food, it stays near oaks.

    Diet

    • The omnivorous blue jay usually eats a vegetarian diet of acorns, fruit, berries, peanuts, nuts and seeds. Other food sources include insects, nestlings, eggs and table scraps.

    Behavior

    • Blue jays can be the bullies of the bird feeder.

      This territorial species can dive at raccoons, cats, dogs and humans near nests and feeding sites. Blue jays show aggression toward other birds in captivity. By mimicking the call of the red-shouldered hawk, they intimidate other birds from feeders.

    Life Cycle

    • Female and male adults build the nest. Three to seven eggs have an incubation period of 16 to 18 days. These birds stay as pairs or travel in family groups or flocks, according to National Geographic.