eBirdseed.com Wild Bird Feeding Blog

Hi all,

Well, it’s about that time of the week again, so I thought we might take a look at the ubiquitous Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata of the Corvidae family).

Blue Jays make their presence known with a variety of calls such as whistling, making a “creaky door” noise, or shrilling an “eeeet! eeeet! eeeet!” sound. Keep in mind that this list of sounds is far from complete. In any event, the fellow below is typical of the breed.



The Blue Jays around here usually stay on the Cape year round, although the species seem to thrive from the Rockies eastward, up into southern Canada, and down to the Gulf of Mexico.

Interesting/fun facts about the Blue Jay:

• The migratory habits of these birds is still somewhat unknown. Sometimes they go, and sometimes they stay. In any event, when they do migrate towards the Northwest, they tend to stick to flocks numbering from 5 to 50.
• Sadly, no state has chosen the Blue Jay as its “State Bird”.
• Blue Jays have an undeserved reputation for marauding the eggs and young of other birds. While that behavior can and does happen, it doesn’t happen that often. By far and away, Blue Jays derive most of their sustenance from seeds, nuts, and suet.
• Like their cousins the crows, Blue Jays call out warnings and engage in mob behavior when they see a predator, be it hawk, owl, or neighborhood cat.
• Blue Jays tend to be fussy eaters, and will send feed flying just to find the perfect morsel.
• Male and female Blue Jays pretty much look the same.

Another week, another bird... (Please feel free to post a comment if you would like to suggest a “Bird of the Week.”)

See you by the feeders.

CapeCodAlan

References used for this post are listed below:

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Wikipedia
• Audubon Society
• The National Audubon Society’s “The Sibley Guide to Birds”
• ”Birds Of North America” published by Golden
• ”Birds of New England” from Smithsonian Handbooks