![]() Other bird species are especially cautious of Blue Jays during nesting season and will mob them while protecting their eggs and young. Blue Jays are quick to exploit forest fragments, since the expanded edge habitat provides greater chances for them to find prey. They cache other nuts and seeds as well.īlue Jay with peanut by JPetch15, ShutterstockĪlthough Blue Jays will plunder the nests of smaller bird species for eggs and even hatchlings, they mostly confine their protein intake to insects, small animals, and even carrion. Sometimes jays will forget a few acorns in this way, they help re-seed the forests. They hold the nuts in their expandable throat pouches, fly to a storage area, then stash the nuts for winter food. In the fall, Blue Jays can often be seen gathering nuts. It is particularly fond of acorns - a jay will use its strong feet to grip a nut, then hammer it open with its heavy black bill to get at the meat inside. The Blue Jay is an omnivore, with a diet that varies according to the time of year. They are one of the few passerines (perching birds) that you can observe migrating. When Blue Jays do migrate, they fly during the day, traveling in loose flocks that can number up to 250 birds. Their migratory behavior remains somewhat mysterious, as some individuals may migrate one year and not the next. Four subspecies of Blue Jay are recognized, with only subtle differences distinguishing them.īlue Jays are migratory in the northern part of their range but do not typically travel long distances. ![]() It's usually found in pairs, family groups, or small flocks. ![]() The Blue Jay is common in much of eastern and central North America, and this adaptable species continues to extend its range to the Northwest. Like the Eastern Bluebird and the Indigo Bunting, their feathers have modified prismatic cells that scatter light waves, reflecting the blue spectrum waves to the viewer. (Audio of Blue Jay imitating Bald Eagle by Peter Boesman XC391461, accessible at Audio of Bald Eagle by Paul Marvin XC165314, accessible at Am I Blue?Īlthough Blue Jays appear to be brilliantly blue, their feathers are actually a dull brown.
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