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Difference between revisions of "Blue Jay" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:BlueJay.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|KC+Foggin|KC Foggin}}<br />Myrtle Beach, [[South Carolina]], 1 June 2007]]
 
;[[: Category:Cyanocitta|Cyanocitta]] cristata
 
;[[: Category:Cyanocitta|Cyanocitta]] cristata
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[[Image:BlueJay.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by KC Foggin<br>Photographed: Myrtle Beach SC]]
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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*Predominantly lavender-blue to mid-blue feathering from the top of the head to midway down the back
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[[File:Blue_Jay_Juvenile-Immature_KC.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|KC+Foggin|KC Foggin}}<br />Myrtle Beach, [[South Carolina]], [[USA]], May 2021]]
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*Pronounced crest
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25–30 cm (9¾-11¾ in)
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*Colour changes to black, sky-blue and white barring on the wing primaries and the tail
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*Predominantly lavender-blue to mid-blue feathering from the top of the head to midway down the back  
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*Off-white underside
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*Pronounced crest  
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*Black collar around the neck and sides of the head
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*Colour changes to black, sky-blue and white barring on the wing [[Topography#Wings|primaries]] and the tail
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*White face.
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*Off-white underside  
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*Black collar around the neck and sides of the head  
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*White face
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*Soles of feet are yellow [https://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=610213 as seen in this picture]
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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Blue Jays reside over a very large area of the eastern side of [[North America]] from northest [[Newfoundland]] to southest [[Florida]], western [[Texas]] and Midwestern United States, and north to central [[Alberta]]. West of the Rockies, it is replaced by the closely related [[Steller's Jay]]. Blue Jay is slowly spreading westward.
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Eastern side of [[North America]] from northest [[Newfoundland]] to southest [[Florida]], western [[Texas]] and Midwestern United States, and north to central [[Alberta]]. West of the Rockies, it is replaced by the closely related [[Steller's Jay]]. Blue Jay is slowly spreading westward.
  
 
Although this bird is generally found year-round through most of its range, some northern birds do move into the southern parts of the range. These birds migrate in the daytime.
 
Although this bird is generally found year-round through most of its range, some northern birds do move into the southern parts of the range. These birds migrate in the daytime.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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Four subspecies are recognized: ''bromia'', ''cristata'', ''semplei'', and ''cyanoptera''.  
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====Subspecies====
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'''Family:''' Corvidae -> '''Genus:''' Cyanocitta -> '''Species:''' ''C. cristata''.
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[[Image:BlueJayfliWV.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''bromia''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|wonderview|wonderview}}<br />[[Nova Scotia]], [[Canada]], 8 March 2020]]
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Four subspecies are recognized<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>:
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*''C. c. bromia'' :
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:*Southern [[Canada]] ([[Alberta]] to [[Quebec]]) to central [[US]]; some winter in south-eastern US
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*''C. c. cristata'':
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:*Central eastern and southeastern [[US]]
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*''C. c. cyanotephra'':
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:*South-eastern [[Wyoming]] and [[Nebraska]] to western [[Kansas]], [[Oklahoma]] and northern [[Texas]]
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*''C. c. semplei'':
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:*Southern [[Florida]]
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Chiefly oak forest, but now also city parks and suburban yards, especially where oak trees predominate.  It is mainly a bird of mixed woodland, including American beech and various oak species.
 
Chiefly oak forest, but now also city parks and suburban yards, especially where oak trees predominate.  It is mainly a bird of mixed woodland, including American beech and various oak species.
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==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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====Voice====
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====Breeding====
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The nest is built by both adults. The four or five eggs are incubated by the female for about 16 or 18 days. Both parents feed the young, which fledge between 17-21 days. [[Dictionary_M-O#M|Monogamous]].
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====Diet====
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They are [[Dictionary_M-O#O|Omnivorous]] feeding on acorns and beech mast. Also seeds, berries and fruit. They will also take eggs and nestlings, scraps of meat and small invertebrates. Garden feeder visitor for peanuts and suet.
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====Vocalisation====
 
*A raucous ''jay-jay''
 
*A raucous ''jay-jay''
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*harsh cries, and a rich variety of other calls.  
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*Harsh cries, and a rich variety of other calls.
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*One is almost identical to the scream of the [[Red-shouldered Hawk]].  
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*One is almost identical to the scream of the [[Red-shouldered Hawk]].
 
*''queedle-queedle'' often referred to as the "rusty pump" owing to its squeaky resemblance to the sound of an old hand-operated water pump.
 
*''queedle-queedle'' often referred to as the "rusty pump" owing to its squeaky resemblance to the sound of an old hand-operated water pump.
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*a high-pitched ''jayer-jayer'' call that increases in speed as the bird becomes more agitated.<br/>
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*a high-pitched ''jayer-jayer'' call that increases in speed as the bird becomes more agitated.
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The voice is typical of most jays in being varied, but the most commonly recognized sound is the alarm call, which is a loud, almost gull-like scream. There is also  Blue Jays will use these calls to band together to drive a predator such as a hawk away from their nest.<br/>
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==References==
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Blue Jays also have quiet, almost subliminal calls which they use among themselves in proximity. In fact, they can make a large variety of sounds, and individuals may vary perceptibly in their calling style.
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#AvianWeb
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#BF Member observations
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#Marzluff, J. (2020). Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/60692 on 12 March 2020)
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{{ref}}
  
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====Nesting====
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==External Links==
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Any suitable tree or large bush may be used for nesting, and both sexes build the nest and rear the young, though only the female broods them. There are usually 4-5 eggs laid and incubated over 16-18 days. The young are fledged usually between 17-21 days. Blue Jays typically form monogamous pair bonds for life.
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Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
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====Feeding====
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{{GSearch|"Cyanocitta cristata" {{!}} "Blue Jay"}}
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Its food is sought both on the ground and in trees and includes virtually all known types of plant and animal sources, such as acorns and beech mast, weed seeds, grain, fruits and other berries, peanuts, bread, meat, eggs and nestlings, small invertebrates of many types, scraps in town parks and bird-table food.
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
  
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Being clever and adaptable birds, Blue Jays are good survivors and have adapted well to human presence; however, their occasionally aggressive behavior at feeding stations, plus a reputation for occasionally destroying the nests and eggs of other birds, have made them unwelcome at some bird feeders. In captivity as well they are generally aggressive toward other birds.
 
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As with other blue-hued birds, the Blue Jay's coloration is not derived by pigments, but is the result of light refraction due to the internal structure of the feathers; if a Blue Jay feather is crushed, the blue disappears as the structure is destroyed. This is referred to as structural coloration.
 
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==External Links==
 
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{{GSearch|Cyanocitta+cristata}}
 
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Cyanocitta]]
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Cyanocitta]]

Latest revision as of 21:37, 10 April 2023

Photo © by KC Foggin
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 1 June 2007
Cyanocitta cristata

Identification

Juvenile
Photo © by KC Foggin
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA, May 2021

25–30 cm (9¾-11¾ in)

  • Predominantly lavender-blue to mid-blue feathering from the top of the head to midway down the back
  • Pronounced crest
  • Colour changes to black, sky-blue and white barring on the wing primaries and the tail
  • Off-white underside
  • Black collar around the neck and sides of the head
  • White face
  • Soles of feet are yellow as seen in this picture

Distribution

Eastern side of North America from northest Newfoundland to southest Florida, western Texas and Midwestern United States, and north to central Alberta. West of the Rockies, it is replaced by the closely related Steller's Jay. Blue Jay is slowly spreading westward.

Although this bird is generally found year-round through most of its range, some northern birds do move into the southern parts of the range. These birds migrate in the daytime.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Subspecies bromia
Photo © by wonderview
Nova Scotia, Canada, 8 March 2020

Four subspecies are recognized1:

  • C. c. bromia :
  • C. c. cristata:
  • Central eastern and southeastern US
  • C. c. cyanotephra:
  • C. c. semplei:

Habitat

Chiefly oak forest, but now also city parks and suburban yards, especially where oak trees predominate. It is mainly a bird of mixed woodland, including American beech and various oak species.

Behaviour

Breeding

The nest is built by both adults. The four or five eggs are incubated by the female for about 16 or 18 days. Both parents feed the young, which fledge between 17-21 days. Monogamous.

Diet

They are Omnivorous feeding on acorns and beech mast. Also seeds, berries and fruit. They will also take eggs and nestlings, scraps of meat and small invertebrates. Garden feeder visitor for peanuts and suet.

Vocalisation

  • A raucous jay-jay
  • Harsh cries, and a rich variety of other calls.
  • One is almost identical to the scream of the Red-shouldered Hawk.
  • queedle-queedle often referred to as the "rusty pump" owing to its squeaky resemblance to the sound of an old hand-operated water pump.
  • a high-pitched jayer-jayer call that increases in speed as the bird becomes more agitated.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. AvianWeb
  3. BF Member observations
  4. Marzluff, J. (2020). Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/60692 on 12 March 2020)

Recommended Citation

External Links

Search the Gallery using the scientific name:

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

Retrieved from ‘https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/index.php?title=Blue_Jay&oldid=263703’
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