Blue jay: Difference between revisions

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Blue jay (view source)

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Blue Jays have dark gray legs and feet, light gray to white breast feathers, and a blue crest on top of their head. Their wings are blue with white and black lines crossing horizontally and a blue tail with black bars on top and white bars underneath. Their eyes, feet, and beak are black. They grow to be about 10-11 inches in length[http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/printouts/Bluejayprintout.shtml] and 2.5 -3.5 ounces. [http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/blue-jay.html] The crest on the top of their head is lowered or raised according to it's mood. When it is excited to aggressive, it's crest feathers stick straight up. [http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/blue_jay_info.htm]
Blue Jays have dark gray legs and feet, light gray to white breast feathers, and a blue crest on top of their head. Their wings are blue with white and black lines crossing horizontally and a blue tail with black bars on top and white bars underneath. Their eyes, feet, and beak are black. They grow to be about 10-11 inches in length[http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/printouts/Bluejayprintout.shtml] and 2.5 -3.5 ounces. [http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/blue-jay.html] The crest on the top of their head is lowered or raised according to it's mood. When it is excited to aggressive, it's crest feathers stick straight up. [http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/blue_jay_info.htm]
The male and female look identical to each other except that the male is slightly larger. [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cyanocitta_cristata.html]
The male and female look identical to each other except that the male is slightly larger. [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cyanocitta_cristata.html]
Their feathers aren't actually blue, it's the refraction of light. If the wings were crushed, the blue pigment would disappear. During the summer they shed all their feathers, most likely to stay cool during the summer heat. [http://www.birdhouses101.com/blue-jay-facts.asp]


== Reproduction ==
== Reproduction ==
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The diet of a Blue Jay consists of nuts, fruits, [[insects]], [[mice]], [[frogs]], and other bird's eggs. [http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/printouts/Bluejayprintout.shtml] To some people this may seem unacceptable, but it benefits the environment by keeping bird and insect populations from becoming too large. [http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/blue_jay_info.htm] They are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. An estimated 24% of their diet is other animals, and 76% is organic matter. [http://www.nrri.umn.edu/mnbirds/accounts/BLJAa2.htm] They like to scare other animals into giving them their food and use their beaks to crack open nut shells.  
The diet of a Blue Jay consists of nuts, fruits, [[insects]], [[mice]], [[frogs]], and other bird's eggs. [http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/printouts/Bluejayprintout.shtml] To some people this may seem unacceptable, but it benefits the environment by keeping bird and insect populations from becoming too large. [http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/blue_jay_info.htm] They are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. An estimated 24% of their diet is other animals, and 76% is organic matter. [http://www.nrri.umn.edu/mnbirds/accounts/BLJAa2.htm] They like to scare other animals into giving them their food and use their beaks to crack open nut shells.  
They are known to be selfish and hostile. During winter periods, they tend to store up more food than they can eat, which can help the environment in the spreading of plant seeds. They have been thought to have aided in the spread of [[Oak|Oak Trees]] across [[North America]]. [http://www.nrri.umn.edu/mnbirds/accounts/BLJAa2.htm] However, they can also be a nuisance because they have been noted to carry the [[West Nile Virus]]. [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cyanocitta_cristata.html]
Blue Jays have been discovered chasing dogs, hawks, raccoons, and even humans away from their nests. Because of this, not a lot of people like to have feeders for them in their backyard. They are very aggressive and steal food from other birds. [http://www.birdhouses101.com/blue-jay-about.asp] Some have seen them stealing and eating eggs from others birds. [http://www.aspensongwildbirdfood.com/wildbirds/speciesprofiles/detail.php?id=69]


They are predated by [[hawks]], [[raccoons]], [[cats]], [[snakes]], [[squirrels]], and [[falcons]]. Both parents will attempt to scare away any predator by chasing and attacking them. [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cyanocitta_cristata.html] Blue Jay families, consist of the young and it's parents, but don't usually live in close contact with other families. The only time a large number of Blue Jays will gather is to scare away any predators. They will even chase and attack humans if they come to close. [http://www.aspensongwildbirdfood.com/wildbirds/speciesprofiles/detail.php?id=69]
They are predated by [[hawks]], [[raccoons]], [[cats]], [[snakes]], [[squirrels]], and [[falcons]]. Both parents will attempt to scare away any predator by chasing and attacking them. [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cyanocitta_cristata.html] Blue Jay families, consist of the young and it's parents, but don't usually live in close contact with other families. The only time a large number of Blue Jays will gather is to scare away any predators. They will even chase and attack humans if they come to close. [http://www.aspensongwildbirdfood.com/wildbirds/speciesprofiles/detail.php?id=69]


They are known to be selfish and hostile. During winter periods, they tend to store up more food than they can eat, which can help the environment in the spreading of plant seeds. They have been thought to have aided in the spread of [[Oak|Oak Trees]] across [[North America]]. [http://www.nrri.umn.edu/mnbirds/accounts/BLJAa2.htm] However, they can also be a nuisance because they have been noted to carry the [[West Nile Virus]]. [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cyanocitta_cristata.html]
Some have noticed that they use ants or ant excretions for preening (grooming the fur or feathers). This is called anting. There is a theory that they do this because something in the ant excretion helps soothe any possible irritation from the new feathers growing in. [http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/blue_jay_info.htm]


Most of them do not migrate, but stay in the same area all year round. They live in the Gulf Coast and Eastern [[United States]] all the way up to Southern [[Canada]]. They are slowly moving westward as well. They live more towards the edges of deciduous and [[coniferous forests]] or in urban areas such as city parks.
Most of them do not migrate, but stay in the same area all year round. They live in the Gulf Coast and Eastern [[United States]] all the way up to Southern [[Canada]]. They are slowly moving westward as well. They live more towards the edges of deciduous and [[coniferous forests]] or in urban areas such as city parks.
[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue_Jay_dtl.html] They love to reside in towns and cities where a quantity of large nut producing trees can be found. [http://www.aspensongwildbirdfood.com/wildbirds/speciesprofiles/detail.php?id=69] In Missouri, they have estimated a 2% increase of Blue Jays every year.
[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue_Jay_dtl.html] They love to reside in towns and cities where a quantity of large nut producing trees can be found. [http://www.aspensongwildbirdfood.com/wildbirds/speciesprofiles/detail.php?id=69] In Missouri, they have estimated a 2% increase of Blue Jays every year.


== Interesting Facts ==
== Vocalizations ==
The Blue Jay's scientific name is "cyanocitta cristata," which is a Greek and Latin word for a "blue, chattering bird." [http://www.birdhouses101.com/blue-jay-about.asp] Their call can be a "jay" sound or a "queedle" sound, along with the many other calls and voices they can mimic. [http://www.aspensongwildbirdfood.com/wildbirds/speciesprofiles/detail.php?id=69]
The Blue Jay's scientific name is "cyanocitta cristata," which is a Greek and Latin word for a "blue, chattering bird." [http://www.birdhouses101.com/blue-jay-about.asp] Their call can be a "jay" sound or a "queedle" sound, along with the many other calls and voices they can mimic. [http://www.aspensongwildbirdfood.com/wildbirds/speciesprofiles/detail.php?id=69]
Their feathers aren't actually blue, it's the refraction of light. If the wings were crushed, the blue pigment would disappear. During the summer they shed all their feathers, most likely to stay cool during the summer heat. [http://www.birdhouses101.com/blue-jay-facts.asp]
Some have noticed that they use ants or ant excretions for preening (grooming the fur or feathers). This is called anting. There is a theory that they do this because something in the ant excretion helps soothe any possible irritation from the new feathers growing in. [http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/blue_jay_info.htm]
Blue Jays have been discovered chasing dogs, hawks, raccoons, and even humans away from their nests. Because of this, not a lot of people like to have feeders for them in their backyard. They are very aggressive and steal food from other birds. [http://www.birdhouses101.com/blue-jay-about.asp] Some have seen them stealing and eating eggs from others birds. [http://www.aspensongwildbirdfood.com/wildbirds/speciesprofiles/detail.php?id=69]


They are very loud birds with many different calls. Their sounds can either be very harsh or more of a whistling sound. They are even known for imitating the calls or [[hawks]], supposedly to warn other blue jays that a hawk is near. [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue_Jay.html#description]
They are very loud birds with many different calls. Their sounds can either be very harsh or more of a whistling sound. They are even known for imitating the calls or [[hawks]], supposedly to warn other blue jays that a hawk is near. [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue_Jay.html#description]
 
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