Renée DeVincent
Renée DeVincent
Blue Jays are hard to miss, with their bold colors and even bolder voices, they make their presence known in any backyard. But behind that noisy call is a bird full of surprises—smart, social, and full of personality. Let’s take a closer look at these clever feathered neighbors and their role in our ecosystems.
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. It's usually found in pairs, family groups, or small flocks. Four subspecies of Blue Jay are recognized—Northern, Coastal, Interior, and Florida—with only subtle differences between them.
Blue Jays are medium-sized birds that feed mainly on acorns, nuts, seeds, fruits, and insects. In some areas, they may also eat agricultural crops, depending on what's available in their habitat.
Blue jays are known for their sharp minds. If you feed them often, they might remember your face and even fly over when they see you. They have been known to call out or come closer when their regular feeder shows up. This means they can tell humans apart and remember who is helpful.
Other smart birds, such as crows and magpies, can also recognize faces. Blue jays belong to the same bird family, which is known for having great memories and problem-solving skills. So while blue jays may not talk like parrots, their brainpower is just as impressive in its own way.ο»Ώ
Blue jays use many sounds and body signals to talk. Their loud “jay-jay” call warns others of danger, not just other blue jays, but nearby animals too. They also make special calls to show where food is. Blue jays raise the feathers on their heads, called a crest, to show feelings like excitement or alertness. These communication skills help blue jays stay safe, find food, care for their families, and help other backyard animals stay safe too.
Blue jays aren’t the only clever birds in the jay family. Across North and Central America, you can find other colorful, smart, and social jays that live in different habitats and have their own unique traits. Let’s take a look at a few of them!
FLORIDA SCRUB JAY
Location: Central and Southern Florida
Size: Smaller than the Blue Jay.
Features: More subdued coloring. Pale blue head, wings, and tail with a gray back and belly; no crest on the head.
Food: Acorns, seeds, tropical fruits, insects, frogs, and small reptiles
(Photo by: Rini Kools - stock.adobe.com)
GREEN JAY
Location: Southern Texas and parts of Mexico and Central America
Size: Similar to a blue jay
Features: Bright green back, yellow underparts, and bold blue and black on the head—very colorful!
Food: Fruits, insects, seeds, and small lizards or frogs
(Photo by: sandy calderbank stock.adobe.com)
PINYON JAY
Location: Western United States (Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado)
Size: Medium-sized
Features: Dusty blue all over with a slightly lighter belly. They don't have a crest on the head like the Blue Jay.
Food: Mostly pinyon pine seeds, but also eats insects, berries, and small nuts
(Photo by: Deep Deset Photo - stock.adobe.com)
STELLAR'S JAY
Location: Western North America. (Alaska through the Rocky Mountains to Central America)
Size: Medium
Features: Dark blue body with a blackish head and crest; often has white streaks or spots near the eyes
Food: Acorns, seeds, nuts, fruit, insects, small animals, and sometimes eggs or nestlings of other birds.
(Photo by: By DANNIEL CORBIT - pexels.com)
One of the most special things about blue jays is how closely their families stick together. After nesting season, many young blue jays don’t fly off right away—they stay with their parents through the fall and even into the next spring. Sometimes, older siblings help raise new chicks, bringing food to the nest and keeping watch. This kind of family teamwork is rare among songbirds, making blue jays stand out as true family birds.
NESTING:
Blue Jay pairs build nests high up in the fork of a tree. Both the male and female pitch in, gathering twigs, roots, bark, and even paper or string if they find it! They line the inside with soft stuff like grass and sometimes even fur to keep their eggs warm and safe.
The female blue jay lays 3 to 6 eggs, usually light blue or green with brown spots. She stays on the nest to keep them warm, while the male brings her food. The eggs hatch after about 2–3 weeks.
Blue jay parents take turns feeding the babies insects, worms, and tiny bits of food. The babies stay in the nest for about 2 to 3 weeks while they grow feathers and learn to flap their wings. Even after they leave the nest, their parents still help feed them while they figure out how to be birds on their own.
Blue Jays help your backyard in important ways. When they collect and hide acorns, some of those acorns grow into new trees. This helps forests grow and stay healthy! They also eat insects that can harm plants, acting like natural pest controllers.
Blue jays like to hang out in trees and bushes. They build their nests high up in tree branches, so you might see them flying up to the treetops or sitting quietly on a branch.
Want more blue jays visiting your yard? Try putting out bird feeders with peanuts, sunflower seeds, or suet. Make sure you have trees or shrubs nearby so they have a safe place to rest and build nests.
To keep blue jays safe, avoid using pesticides or chemicals in your yard. These can hurt the birds and the insects they eat. Also, keep cats indoors or supervised, so blue jays don’t get scared or caught.
Materials:
Instructions:
Optional Add-on: Bring a sketchpad or nature journal and draw any birds you see—or write a story about the boldest Blue Jay that visits.
Older Posts
