Blue Jay Photo Gallery
Adult
Blue above and white below, with a prominent crest and a bold black necklace. The wings and tail are barred with black, and it has a bold white wingbar.
© Scott Martin / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 03, 2017Adult
White throat is bordered by a black necklace. Grayish breast and flanks fade to a white belly.
© Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, December 23, 2020Adult (with Red-winged Blackbird)
Blue Jays often come to feeders where they eat many types of seeds, especially sunflower. They hold seeds between their feet and hammer them open. Note the mostly blue tail with white tips, which can be distinctive in flight.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2006Not all videos have soundAdult
Spectacular blue color is caused by the scattering of light through specialized feather structures.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, December 24, 2016Adult
Large white tail corners are prominent in flight, along with a black necklace and white underparts.
© Steve Kolbe / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 19, 2017Adult
Jays are noisy birds; this one is visibly agitated and calling frequently along with chickadees, cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and other birds. It's likely they've discovered an owl or hawk and are mobbing it to try to make it leave.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 14, 2014Not all videos have soundAdult
When viewed head on the black necklace and feathering around the base of the bill are especially prominent.
© Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, December 08, 2019Adult
Eats fruits, acorns, nuts, seeds, and insects.
© Diane St-Jacques / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, November 12, 2019Male and female building nest
Nests are made mostly of twigs and well hidden in trees. Both sexes build the nest; the female usually spends more time arranging twigs and lining the nest with rootlets, grass, and sometimes mud.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2004Not all videos have soundAdult
Often visits feeders, sometimes in flocks.
© Suzanne Labbé / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, January 07, 2017Habitat
A bird of forest edges, woodlots, yards, and parks.
© Joe Wujcik / Macaulay LibraryAlabama, December 09, 2019Adult
Note the strong, straight bill and the crest which can be raised or lowered at will. The pale-blue iridescent patches in the wing can glitter or look dull, depending on the angle of light.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2006Not all videos have soundCompare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Crows, Jays, and Magpies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Corvidae)
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