Blue Jay    Cyanocitta cristata

Migratory Status: Resident

PIF Population Estimate: 22 000 000

Percent of western hemisphere population breeding in boreal forest: <25%

BAM Effective Detection Radius (m) : 108

PIF Maximum Detection Distance (m) : 200

Canadian BBS Population trend: 0.9 n.s. (0.1 to 1.6)

Life History

The Blue Jay is one of the most striking and handsome members of North America’s resident avifauna. While revered for its intelligence and determination, it is also reviled by many for its aggression and omnivorous feeding habits. Regardless, it is perhaps one of the most abundant and well-recognized passerine birds on the continent. With its gray breast, black necklace, blue upperparts, and prominent blue crest, the species is easily distinguished from other, similar North American Corvids.

The Blue Jay breeds throughout most forested regions of eastern North America, extending west in a small zone in the southern boreal forest as far as east-central and southwestern British Columbia. The wintering range encompasses most of the breeding range, but does extend to areas south and west of this range, such as northern California and western Texas.

The Blue Jay has one of the greatest sound vocabularies of any North American passerine, with most sounds categorized into one of five groups based on tonal quality, frequency range, and function. Another vocal trait of this species is its ability to mimic the sounds of other species, along with an endless number of anthropogenic sounds.

Their diet is highly variable and they feed very opportunistically on a diet composed of arthropods, seeds, nuts, soft fruits, and small vertebrates. In urban areas, Blue Jays are also known to be attracted to such things as pet food, or seeds and nuts from bird feeders. Many of the foods selected, such as acorns and other hard nuts, are difficult for other species to access. The Blue Jay uses both legs to secure its food while using its stout bill as a hammer.

Reference(s)

Tarvin, K. A., and G. E. Woolfenden. 1999. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), The Birds of North America, No. 469. A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists's Union, Washington, D.C.