Blue
Jays are brash, sometimes noisy, commonly recognized birds often found in urban
settings. Blue Jays feed on a wide array of items, and will readily attend
residential feeders for most commonly offered foods. They are extremely
intelligent, and are quick to adapt to new situations when foraging
opportunities present themselves.
Habitat: Breeds in deciduous to mixed forest, never pure
conifer stands. Can be found in a wide variety of woodland and forest
settings, including unbroken forest, forest edges and clearings, residential
areas and parks, and shelterbelts.
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on nuts,
acorns, pine seeds, other seeds, waste grain, fruit and berries, insects, eggs
and young birds, small rodents, small reptiles, small amphibians, carrion.
Behavior: Blue Jays will use a very wide variety
of techniques for foraging, with individual birds often specializing in a
certain foraging technique and food item. They will feed from the
ground to the top levels of a forest canopy, at bird feeders, at carrion
along a roadside, etc.
Nesting: May and June
Song:
Blue
Jay Song, also
Blue
Jay Call. Can make a very wide variety of vocalizations.
Migration: Generally a permanent resident, with some
occasionally moving south in the fall.
Feeders: Sunflower seeds, suet, nuts
Status: Probably increasing in range and numbers,
although West Nile virus has taken a heavy toll in some areas in recent years.
2)
Cornell University's "All About Birds - Blue Jay"
3)
eNature.com:
Blue Jay
Photo Information: November 15th, 2007 - Big
Sioux Recreation Area near Brandon, South Dakota - Terry L. Sohl
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or
text links below for additional, higher-resolution Blue Jay photos.
