(Cyanocitta cristata)
http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpecies_LI.asp?imageID=16960
Classification Physical Appearance
Range and Habitat Nesting behavior and Reproduction
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passeriformes
Family Corvidae
Genus Cyanocitta
Species cristata
http://i-bird.com/Gallery/GALBlueJay682.htm
Blue jays are very bright, colorful birds of medium size (9-12 in.).
This beautiful bird displays bright sky blue wings and a tail with white
and black stripes. The dull white ventral side provides great
countershading.
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/ornithology/sephotos/birdinde.htm
The blue jay has a white face with a bold blue crest
and crown, black bands near the eyes, and a black necklace. Blue
jays have black eyes, black legs, and a long, probing black bill used
for various food sources. There is no significant difference in
the physical appearances of male and female blue jays
As true of most birds, the range a blue jay correlates with the
habitat in which the blue jay resides. Blue jays typically inhabit
deciduous and evergreen forests. Blue jays are becoming more
prevalent in urban areas where many trees exist (especially oak and
beech trees). As to be expected the highest blue jay populations
have been reported along the Appalachians in New England and in the
Mississippi valley (AR, MS, MO, LA and AL) where evergreen
forests and oak trees are prevalent.
Christmas Bird Count for Blue Jay (Mid-Dec. - Early Jan.)
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i4770id.html
Breeding Bird Survey for Blue Jay (June)
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i4770id.html
* No data was collected on March 18 or March 25.
According to the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) (mid-Dec.- mid-Jan.)
and the Bird Breeding survey (BBS) (June), the population of blue
jays in east Tennessee remains approximately the same. The data
collected in the Maryville College woods between early February and
and mid-April contradicts the aforementioned data. There was
significantly more blue jays in April than in February. This variation
in results is probably due to a small sample.
Blue jays do not have one particular food source. Instead, these
omnivores consume a variety of seeds, insects, fruits, and
occasionally a mouse or fish. The large diet of the blue jay suggests
the use of a very diverse bill. The blue jay is suited for cracking
acorns, beechnuts, and seeds, and snatching beetles, grasshoppers,
and caterpillars.
http://www.baylink.org/wpc/bluejay.html
Caterpillar pupae are of special need to the hatchling
blue jays during the early summer months. The mother blue jay
extracts the pupae from the surrounding cocoon and feeds it to its
nestlings.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art5.asp
Blue jays take great advantage of the resources around them.
This species of bird gathers available food for storage when the desire
to feed is not strong. Blue jays collect acorns and nuts and hide
them under leaves, in the grass, and in hollow trees. These birds have
been known to take pleasure in gathering as much resource as
possible from bird feeders. Under rare circumstances, blue jays have
been known to consume freshly laid eggs of other species. This
wide range of food resources reflects the opportunistic approach to
blue jay feeding.
Nesting Behavior and Reproduction
In early spring, several male blue jays follow a female blue
jay. The males bob their bodies up and down while making tooloo
calls to attract the females. Typically, the male who is most
aggressive receives the attention from the female blue jay.
The preparation of a nest is an integral part of the
reproduction and the courtship of two paired blue jays. Male
blue jays prepare several incomplete nests during the courtship with
other female blue jays. This is a courtship ritual found in all blue jays.
Following copulation, the male and female blue jays construct an
open-cup nest 18 cm. in diameter with small twigs, moss lichen, mud
feathers, rootlets, and grass in the canopy of a tree.
Another unique courtship behavior involves the male blue
j jays feeding of the incubating female blue jay. This behavior
precedes copulation and continues throughout the incubation period.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/34356072/35956991fIydIa
On average each clutch consists of 4-5 eggs. The color of each
egg varies from a light brown, to a light green or light blue. Some
eggs contain blotches and spots while other eggs lack these physical
features. A typical blue jay egg is 28.02 by 20.44 millimeters.
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i4770id.html
Both the male and female incubate the eggs for a 17-21 day
period after which the eggs hatch. The naked hatchlings are
continuously fed by both the male and female. After about
21 days, the hatchling is covered with feathers and can leave the nest.
After six weeks, the hatched blue jay can gather food on its own.
http://www.nearctica.com/biomes/edf/bird/bluejay.htm
Blue jays have a rather involved repertoire of songs. A blue jayhas primarily three unique calls. The most famous call, "jay, jay, jay,"
is heard on a regular basis during the spring and into the
summer.
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/ornithology/sephotos/birdinde.htm
During the breeding season, male blue jays make a too-loo call to
attract female blue jays. Blue jays also make a too-wheedle too-
wheedle call.
Jay-jay call bluejayjay.au
Too-loo call bluejay1.au
Rusty hinge call bluejayrh.au
Blue jays have an unusual ability to learn new sounds. For
instance, blue jays have been able to mimic the sound of a rusty
hinge. Blue jays can also mimic calls of other species including
red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks.
aggressive. Blue jays are avid guardians of their territory. If given any
slight opportunity, the blue jay will attack its prey or in many cases
its predator. Blue jays have been known to attack owls, humans,
raptors, and other species' eggs and nests. If a blue jay spots an owl
during the day, the blue jay dives bombs the intruding owl and pokes
it on the head until the owl leaves the territory.
http://www.2artists.com/carole/backyard/bycloseups/bjaynut1.html
Blue jays are very intelligent birds. As previously mentioned,
blue jays take advantage of all resources by storing them away for
future use. These birds are also very aware of their surroundings.
Blue jays warn the rest of the birds in the community of invaders such
hawks or owls.
http://members.aol.com/mjbrown/HTML/highspeed.html
http://birds.cornell.edu/BOW/BLUJAY/
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/cyanocitta/c._cristata.html
http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/hww-fap/hww-fap.cfm?ID_species=7&lang=e
http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/jay.htm
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1998/stcroix/corvidae.htm
http://www.50birds.com/BPBlueJay.htm
http://realindy.com/bluejays.htm
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i4770id.html
http://www.canoe.ca/LifewisePlantGardenFeathered/dec99_bluejay.html
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/PGC/w_notes/BlueJay.htm
http://home.bluemarble.net/~pqn/ch21-30/bluejay.html
http://shawnee.fws1.com/photo4.html