Great work and here's to so many more hubs for us both to share on here.Have a great day. Blue jays are large for songbirds, typically measuring between 9 and 12 inches long, and weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 ounces. He also catches wood boring bees, which are large bumble-bee like, annoying bees. Additionally, what is the best type of bird feeder for Blue Jays? These species are considered to be intelligent and extraordinarily curious birds. Blue Jays can be very aggressive to other birds; they sometimes raid nests, and they have decapitated other birds. That's a first--they usually wait until I move on to the next feeder. They will also occasionally use these calls to scare other birds away from food sources that the blue jays have come … How do Blue Jays survive winter? Some people have theorized that blue jays may migrate if their winter food sources become scarce, or if weather conditions are harsh. I was working in the yard, sawing branches off a weedy mulberry tree I’d let get way out of control. That's a wonderful study. Thanks for writing and share with us. I hope the recent storms have moved away from your area, and that you enjoy a wonderful upcoming weekend ;) Pearl. However, much to my surprise it was not a red-shouldered hawk that flew out of the tree, but a blue jay uttering the same shrill but nasal ‘keyeer, keeyeer’! Their loudness led the parents back and they fed and cared for them till they flew away. Blue Jays make a large variety of calls. Maybe they aren't blue jays? As soon as nesting is in full swing, they will need the extra boost you have kindly provided for them; and hopefully you will be rewarded for your patience. So I'm quite sure they were females. During breeding season they become quiet, especially when near their nests. You proved that the 'smell' of humans handling birds or their nests does nothing to deter the parents from continuing to care for their young. I suspected they could, as I'm pretty sure I heard back from 1 of the 3 in my new area,. All three flew off together to another spot in the woods to repeat the same dance. On the other hand, Blue Jays do indeed cause problems for eggs and nestlings of other birds. Blue Jays are infamous for their noticeable presence at bird feeders, so I looked into how to draw Blue Jays away from your feeders. Blue Jays can imitate calls of their predators, especially hawks, and may use these calls to test whether or not these predators are in the area. Even though they are a bit aggressive at the feeders, I love their beautiful colors and their mimicry. Blue jay nests incorporate bits of thread, and all kinds of found objects. Its similarly hued cousin on the West Coast, the California Scrub-Jay, is also common and only slightly less abrasive. Not always conspicuous, they slip furtively through the trees when tending their own nest or going to rob the nest of another bird. It is a very unique sound. Blue Jays, like other birds, use their strong bills for cracking seeds, nuts, and acorns for food. You will need a ground bird feeder or a large bird feeder to support blue jays. Then one male would fly upwards engaging the female to do the same. Distinguishing characteristics of the blue jay include the pronounced blue crest on their heads, which the blue jay may lower and raise depending on mood, and which will bristle outward when the bird is being aggressive or becomes frightened. However, Blue Jays don't shy away from using this ability to their advantage. When flying alone, blue jays are subject to predation by hawks, eagles, and other raptors, however when in groups they will 'mob' much larger birds in order to fight them off. Both birds are larger and more agrressive than the jays. I knew blue jays were one of the birds that would pester, or mob hawks, but until then I did not realize they also impersonated them. It was then I knew I had been fooled by one of the best and most versatile mimics in the bird world. I made a nest in an empty plant container and hung it in the tree. Jays have a white face, black collar, blue wings and back with a blue tail trimmed with white and black feathers. In addition to raptors, blue jays may attack other animals, including humans, which come too close to their nests. I'm not at all sure where he picked it up, but it is interesting that he has adapted it as his own personal voice. I must admit that I look forward to hearing it again every year. I didn't know the birds could mimic other ones so well! Blue Jays can imitate the sounds in their environments, and one thing they mimic is hawk calls. Thank you! Thanks so much for sharing. Once the wings and muscles are developed, the birds stay together until the winter when the young leave to avoid competing for food. Blue jays, like all members of the corvid family (crows and ravens, etc.) This is for a simple reason, since acorns are not present all year-round, blue jays have to store them for later feeding. Blue jays most often have a monogamous breeding partner for life. Blue jays are villains – winged brigands with a penchant for raiding the nests of other birds to devour eggs and nestlings. He would finally decide on one and fly away with it. Up and interesting votes. Blue jays will mimic the calls of predatory raptors in order to test whether or not their predators are nearby. Some birds have been heard to imitate hawk calls. They do not consume all the acorns they take rather they start burying acorns in large numbers than those eaten. Did you know that blue jays often comb their feathers with ants? Your supportive comments, votes and shares are certainly very much appreciated. They have fooled me more than once with their clever impersonations. She stills feeds and studies them every day. This jay has always imitated the sound of an old rotary phone being dialed. Presumably they are using the insects to catch and remove lice and other irritating parasites. Blue jays prefer to nest in evergreen trees and shrubs 10 to 35 feet off the ground. What we do know about their vocalizations, however, is very interesting. They will also occasionally use these calls to scare other birds away from food sources that the blue jays have come across. Most East Coast folks have met a Blue Jay before, whether it was bullying other birds at their feeders or aping raptor calls and dive-bombing sparrows and robins in the canopy. Nice that you help feed them in the northern winters. Much of blue jay migratory behavior remains a mystery - some blue jays may migrate one year, then stay in their home range the next, then migrate another year. However, they are prone to hawks and eagles, especially when … JR Krishna from India on November 14, 2012: Interesting,beautiful,awesome and up for this one again. I'm so glad you enjoyed this article. Most vocalizations are used to intimidate or threaten other birds or intruders near nesting or feeding areas. Try watching from a window instead of sitting next to the feeder. By sounding like a hawk, blue jays easily scatter other birds at the feeder. Presumably they are using the insects to catch and remove lice and other irritating parasites. Captive Blue Jays sometimes learn to imitate human speech and meowing cats. Just this morning as I was adding bird seed and a mixture of fruit and nuts to one of the feeders, a blue jay landed within inches of me! The length of the eggs measures about 2.5 – 3.3 cm (1 – 1.3 inches). Blue Jays really are clever birds aren't they. KerryAnita from Satellite Beach, Florida on November 14, 2012: Wow, I just learned a lot about blue jays! Blue jays will sometimes eat eggs and nestlings of other birds, but this is rare. Some blue jays are permanent residents of their range, but others will form into flocks ranging between 5 and 250 in order to migrate southwards. There's a pond, and I like to sit at one of the benches, and feed the animals. This makes them both very interesting and hard to capture and study (Kroodsma, 2005). Hope the Indian Blue Jays are also great mimics. Thank you for sharing this charming article with us, and I hope you have a fabulous week. Their distinctive blue crest will give a hint as to what they are feeling. What interesting birds. Blue Jays are clever birds! Kathryn from Windsor, Connecticut on June 19, 2013: I love Blue Jays! — L. Mann, Dexter, Michigan. Placing a feeder near shrubbery where birds can seek cover, or a tree where they can sit while they eat, will make the birds feel safer and more comfortable using your feeder. Your comments and vote are so very much appreciated. They have an easy time foraging for food where we live. The sounds they were making with each other were beyond my scope so I had just made a couple sound patterns that I could muster. Blue jays live in deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests throughout the eastern and central areas of the United States, and southern Canada. I didn't know about the Indian blue jay. Guess this one was extra hungry! I have to find him again and study him. My coworker Nancy has a compost pile in her backyard where she has seen Blue Jays repeatedly … Blue jays are especially fond of oak trees and the acorns that they drop. But I still think it is a beauty. He downed several peanut halves and then took off. I saw many blue jays when I lived in PA, however I have not seen any here where I live in NC. Your visit is very much appreciated. One day I finally saw a blue jay making the call when I zeroed in on the sound. So nice to see you Eddy as always! The no motive theory contends that blue jays simply imitate sounds they hear, hawk calls included. Hunters don't particularly care for them as they not only frighten birds with their mimicking sounds, but also other wildlife. Many a birder has been fooled into thinking a hawk was around, and discovers a blue jay instead. When 530 Blue Jay stomach contents were analyzed in a 1922 study, traces of bird eggs or nestlings were found in only 6 stomachs — barely 1 percent, even though the researchers specifically looked for egg and chick matter. I finally reached the spot where the hawk sounds were the loudest. I am so glad you stopped by and commented. Most people don't realize that it is a myth about human scent, bird nests and baby birds. Blue jays typically form monogamous pairs and stay together for life. Blue Jays are known to imitate a variety of other bird species, including the Bald Eagle and Eastern Screech-Owl. You can attract Blue Jays with eggshells. Maybe once spring is officially here, they will come back again. Blue jays have been tarred with a dirty brush for many years, accused of robbing other nests, of murdering and eating baby birds, of hogging the feeder and of stealing shiny things from your yard. Blue Jays have an impressive vocal repertoire that includes not only many sounds beyond their raucous jay! The Blue Jay is known as a loud and aggressive bird. Hmm. They also can be found in parks and suburban residential areas, and are frequent guests of backyard bird feeders. Connie Smith (author) from Southern Tier New York State on November 14, 2012: Hi thumbi7! The wing and tail feathers are bright blue with white andblack bands. But now that it is cold and snowy, they are at the feeders daily. I have no clue but they are so entertaining. Their face is typically white, and they have an off-white underbelly. Eggs are laid and incubated for 2 to 3 weeks and fledge for 17 to 21 days. Alternatively, you can put some seed on the ground in order to attract them. Its cries are used to warn other birdsand animals of danger, but are also often used for no apparent reason. I have seen you on Bill's site (billybuc), as well as Joe's, so I decided to see some of your bird posts. Pearl. Sometimes here in the northeast, if the Winter is relatively mild, our blue jays will stay and frequent the feeders. Here it is often thought of as a 'bully bird' partly because of its size. Then I knew. When I lived in Connecticut recently, I visited the park across the street often. Compare the Blue Jay's many calls below. I'm so glad you stopped by and left such a great comment. Blue jays eat their young. Connie Smith (author) from Southern Tier New York State on January 21, 2013: Hi TheSavvySongbird! We also have mockingbirds who mimic sounds. Additionally they like to eat corn, grains, berries, seeds, insects, and peanuts. Adult Blue Jays are k… Voted up! calls but also other familiar oddball noises that resemble gurgles, rattles, and squeaky gates. Thank you for your votes and your great comments; they are very much appreciated my friend! The blue jays often live in small flocks and aggressively protect their nesting site. I often make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for them with the 2 end crusts of bread. Blue jays are especially fond of acorns, peanuts, corn, and black oil sunflower seeds. The first time it happened, I was actually trying to throw it to a squirrel, so it caught me off guard! My clever blue jays never cease to amaze me with their beauty, aggressive raucousness and mimicry. The jays we see in Britain are Eurasian jays. It was an interesting experience. The first theory is the mimicry serves as a warning to other jays about any lurking hawks. or to scare away predators or people that approach their nests. Sometimes I can distinguish the males from the females, but not always. I remember when I first a Blue Jay hopping from peanut to peanut on the deck rail. I enjoyed your hub, voted up and interesting! But most rogues have redeeming characteristics, and jays are no exception. I am glad they find our yards appealing and useful. They also have their own form of insect control. Jays are very sociable birds and so have many different calls, and can imitate other birds, especially other crows. Blue Jays are very secretive when it comes to building nests. Others suggest an altruistic motive: Jays imitate hawks to warn other birds that a hawk has been spotted and it’s time to take cover. You know, I've seen them do a greedy thing with pieces of bread. Blue jays are very cautious birds and will not approach feeders if humans are near. Their calls include loud, strident “do-it” or “jaaaay” sounds as well as warbling chirps. www.highlandscashiersproperties.com. I also learned a lot. Blue jays love bread, crackers, any day-old bakery items! I bring bird food (and bread sometimes), and whole peanuts. They use alternate routes and decoy locations so that no predator can easily follow them to the nesting site. There will be as few as three or as many as seven olive-green eggs covered with brown spots. They jam as much into their beaks as possible, and then try for more, especially if there are other birds around! Thanks for the great info & picks. When the crest is erected, making a prominent peak, the bird is excited, surprised, or aggressive. Blue jays also imitate the two-syllable scream of the red-tailed hawk. This bird is known to be beautiful, intelligent, and highly aggressive. There are four subspecies of blue jay: the northern blue jay, which live in Canada and the northern U.S. and has fairly dull plumage and pale blue coloration; the coastal blue jay, which lives on the southern coast of the eastern united states and is vivid blue; the interior blue jay, which lives throughout the midwest U.S.; and the Florida blue jay, the smallest subspecies, which is similar in color to the northern blue jay. These mountains are full. Their antics uplift my soul. Blue jays typically fly at speeds of 20-25 miles per hour. When blue jays have lots of natural food available, they go for that before they head for the feeders. Blue jays need to either have large bird feeders, or ground feeders. I was reminded of how talented this bird is just the other day. Blue jays are known to be beautiful, intelligent, and highly aggressive birds. American Expedition is proud to present information, facts, habitat info, bird feeding tips and pictures of the Blue Jay. Voted up and awesome. They love to decorate! Brenda Kyle from Blue Springs, Missouri, USA on March 06, 2013: I have a pair that always stay around and feed. Male and female blue jays are nearly identical. They will also occasionally use these calls to scare other birds away from food sources that the blue jays have come across. With their pinkish plumage, and characteristic flash of blue, they will be familiar to many people as woodland birds that are increasingly seen in gardens, even in cities. They each flew from branch to branch cooing softly and trying to get closer to her. For instance, when they are calm their crest will be flattened. I heard back sounds I had made to them last week or more. By sounding like a hawk, blue jays easily scatter other birds at the feeder. Blue Jays will imitate hawks to warn other birds that a hawk is in the area and they need to take cover or to scare predators away. Very clever birds! How prevalent is this? Here in North Texas I've discovered that one of our blue jays imitates the calls of crows and grackles. There are four subspecies of blue jays; the coastal blue jays, the northern blue jays, the interior blue jays, and the Florida blue jay which is the smallest subspecies. Retrofit your feeders or buy new ones that exclude larger birds. I figure it's all part of the natural order of things. I have a cardinal that I see near my patio about every day. I'm gad I did! Shop for Wild Bird gifts in our wildlife store. Blue jays have very strong black bills, which can crack nuts and acorns. When it lands at the feeder, all the other birds naturally scatter. Look for this birds narrow necklace of black feathers across thethroat and around the head. Burying stores of food to be unearthed later when food sources are scarce is another tactic employed by these large 11” to 12” birds. While talking with my coworker about Blue Jays, I became curious about these fascinating birds. Blue Jays frequently mimic hawks, especially Red-shouldered Hawks. The upper parts are bluish gray and brightest on the rump. I can always tell when that one is coming close. Blue jays typically live in small flocks, and are highly protective of their nesting site. Ornithologists suggest they do this for one of two reasons, or perhaps both. It is wonderful to connect to the beautiful spirit that you are, my dear friend. Aren't they just the most beautiful shades of blue?! But I love their colors and their crazy mimicry. The blue jays eggs are 1.8 – 2.2 cm (0.7 – 0.9 inches) wide. How interesting:). I occasionally add peanuts as a treat for them. Their colors are so vibrant, and their sounds can sometimes be crazy depending upon what they are mimicking! Blue Jays are medium-sized ranging in length from 9 to 12 inches. I loved reading about your blue jay experience. But blue jays have a wonderful array of other vocalizations, none of which sound at all like the raucous jeer. Their favorites are sunflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, pieces of stale bread or baked goods, suet and berries. He was weighing them to find the largest ones! Blue jays typically live in small flocks, and are highly protective of their nesting site. In the wild, they often mimic Red-shouldered and Red-tailed hawks, and sometimes other species. I hoped to catch a glimpse of a juvenile hawk, or at least the nesting site. I'm so glad you enjoyed this article. Blue Jays can imitate calls of their predators, especially hawks, and may use these calls to test whether or not these predators are in the area. Their wings and tail have black, sky-blue, and white bars. Thank you for commenting and sharing; they are very much appreciated. Your supportive comments and votes are so very much appreciated. There were several at the feeder off and on the other day as I watched them gobbling down the pieces of stale crackers I had provided. I can only imagine how long it took that female to finally decide which male blue jay was to be her mate. Connie Smith (author) from Southern Tier New York State on March 07, 2013: So glad to see you sg! The ducks, birds and squirrels would all compete for my attention. Blue jays normally fly at speeds of 20-25 miles per hour. I'd say it was more of a soft grayish blue. It has a specialized whistle that I've never heard before. @Larry Fish, yes, in WNC we have plenty of Bluejays. Blue Jay eyeing seeds in the squirrel baffle/seed catcher tray. The Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a large, crested songbird native to North America with bright blue coloration. We bird lovers are kindred spirits I think! Blue Jay Habitat and Distribution . Blue jays sport colorful blue plumage on their crest, wings, back, and tail. Like us on Facebook for 5% off your order, Largest selection of rustic cabin decor on the web. 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