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.

Adult

White throat is bordered by a black necklace. Grayish breast and flanks fade to a white belly.

Adult (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.

Adult

Spectacular blue color is caused by the scattering of light through specialized feather structures.

Adult

Large white tail corners are prominent in flight, along with a black necklace and white underparts.

Adult

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.

Adult

When viewed head on the black necklace and feathering around the base of the bill are especially prominent.

Adult

Eats fruits, acorns, nuts, seeds, and insects.

Male 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.

Adult

Often visits feeders, sometimes in flocks.

Habitat

A bird of forest edges, woodlots, yards, and parks.

Adult

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.