Breeding Location:
Forests, coniferous, Forest edge
Breeding Type:
Monogamous, Solitary nester
Breeding Population:
Widespread
Egg Color:
Pale blue green or green blue with brown marks
Number of Eggs:
3 - 7
Incubation Days:
16 - 18
Egg Incubator:
Both sexes
Nest Material:
Twigs, bark, moss, grass, and sometimes paper and string.
Migration:
Migratory
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Overview
Blue Jay: Medium, noisy jay with bright blue upperparts, pale gray underparts, distinct head crest, and neck surrounded with a curious black necklace. Black-barred wings and tail have prominent white patches. Direct flight with steady and bouyant wing beats. Glides between perches or to the ground.
Range and Habitat
Blue Jay: Resident east of the Rockies, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, but slowly encroaching westward. Preferred habitats include evergreen forests, farmlands, groves, and suburbs.
Breeding and Nesting
Blue Jay: Three to seven brown marked, light blue green or green blue eggs are laid in a coarsely built nest made of sticks, lined with grass, and well concealed in a tree, often a conifer. Incubation ranges from 16 to 18 days and is carried out by both parents.
Foraging and Feeding
Blue Jay: Feeds on fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, mice, and frogs; sometimes robs other nests for young birds and eggs. Opens nuts by holding them in place with feet and hammering the shell with bill.
Readily Eats
Cracked Corn, Suet, Sunflower Seed
Vocalization
Blue Jay: Calls include raucous, harsh cries, and a rich variety of other sounds. Also makes a musical "queedle-queedle."
Similar Species
Blue Jay: Steller's Jay has dark underparts. Western and Florida Scrub-Jays lack crests.
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