Blue Jays are probably the most recognizable birds in North America!
You don’t should be an skilled to determine these colourful, loud, clever birds.
However guess what? There may be much more to learn about Blue Jays than blue feathers and a boisterous character!
Immediately, you’ll be taught 14 enjoyable information about Blue Jays!
Earlier than we start, I needed to share my LIVE fowl feeder cam with you. You might be able to observe a Blue Jay feeding proper at this very second! Their favourite meals at my feeding station are sunflower seeds, peanuts, and corn kernels. *JUST PRESS PLAY.*
Truth #1: Blue Jays aren’t blue!
You heard me appropriately! And belief me, this blew my thoughts too! Though Blue Jays, are, effectively…blue, it’s only a trick of the sunshine.
For instance, a Northern Cardinal is purple as a result of its feathers are purple pigment. Blue Jays haven’t any such blue pigment. Should you crush the wing of a cardinal right into a powder, will probably be purple. Should you do the identical with a blue jay feather, the powder might be brown.
SO WHY DO I SEE BLUE!?
Blue Jays (and all blue birds!) use slightly trick known as gentle scattering. In a really primary nutshell, when seen gentle strikes the feathers, the entire colours cross by the feather EXCEPT blue. The blue coloration is mirrored, so your eyes will see BLUE.
Don’t consider me? Check it for your self. Take a Blue Jay feather, get it moist, and it’ll flip brown. You’re interfering with the mechanism that displays gentle, so you’ll not see blue.
Confused?
So am I. I by no means preferred Physics class. And to be trustworthy, I’m unsure if the above image applies to Blue Jay feathers! 🙂
Truth #2: Men and women look the identical!
That is fairly uncommon within the birding world and known as sexual monomorphism. Most species of birds have women and men that look very completely different from one another, which is known as sexual dimorphism.
Regardless, since their plumage is identical, it’s difficult to inform sexes aside.
So how will you already know?
First, Males are often bigger than females.
Second, their mating and courting behaviors give them away. Blue jays are sometimes seen in courtship teams (usually three to 10 birds). In these teams, a single feminine blue jay determines the habits of the encompassing males. For instance, if a feminine begins to fly, the males comply with; when the feminine lands, the group of males additionally lands.
Truth #3: They will stay a longggg time!
The common age for a wild fowl is often 5-7 years. This quantity varies wildly based mostly on the person fowl and surroundings.
Nonetheless, the oldest identified wild Blue Jay was at the very least 26 years, 11 months outdated! It was first banded in 1989 within the Newfoundland space and located lifeless in 2016 in fishing gear in the identical vary!
Most Blue Jays die from predators (hawks, raccoons, cats, snakes, squirrels, and many others) or flying right into a human-made object.
Nonetheless, in current a long time, West Nile Virus has precipitated a number of vital native declines. For no matter purpose, Blue Jays are probably the most inclined birds to this illness.
Truth #4: Blue Jays are the official state fowl of…
Zilch. Nowhere. Nada.
Poor guys. Zero out of Fifty. 🙁
In the meantime, the Northern Cardinal is hogging up seven states. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply that jays get no love!
In Canada, they’re the provincial fowl of Prince Edward Island. To not point out they’re the image of the Toronto Blue Jays main league baseball group, together with a number of different schools and universities!
Truth #5: They’re an alarm system for different birds.
One of many most important predators for the Blue Jay (together with different birds) is the Pink-Shouldered Hawk. Jays are so sensible that they’ll imitate the sound of hawks when they’re noticed! This early alert protects many different birds from changing into lunch!
Nonetheless, Blue Jays can typically use this to their benefit. For instance, they may make hawk sounds even when none are current.
The result? Different birds fly away, leaving the Blue Jay first in line to eat.
Not a foul concept! That is like yelling “FIRE” in a crowded restaurant and bypassing the wait! Nonetheless, I’m not endorsing or recommending this technique.
Truth #6: Blue Jays might be bullies.
Some say that Blue Jays have a pack mentality. They’re very cooperative with their species, and a bunch of jays will typically drive off different birds which are utilizing “their” feeders.
Some yard birders dislike them for this habits. Nonetheless, I’m not considered one of them.
The benefit to the pack mentality is {that a} “band” of jays can drive off a hawk, cat, squirrel, raccoon, or different animals that threaten their habitat once they have sufficient members current.
The secret is to have small feeders that don’t accommodate huge birds so finches, sparrows, and others can nonetheless have a spot for lunch. Separate feeders for greater birds will make the jays, cardinals, and different massive birds really feel welcome to go to, too.
Right here is my favourite fowl feeder for Blue Jays!
Jays like having a big, open house to feed. And this tray feeder might be hung within the air, mounted on a pole, or positioned on the bottom (as seen under).
Woodlink 3 in 1 Platform Hen Feeder View Immediately’s Worth
Truth #7: Blue Jays are noisy and loud.
Initially, a jay was a talkative, impertinent, chatterbox of an individual who tended to dominate conversations. Blue Jays have been so named as a result of they are typically loud, full of life, and energetic.
The vary of their vocalizations is in depth. Some sounds are pleasant, whereas others might be loud and annoying. Hear a few of their widespread sounds on this video:
Nonetheless, there’s extra to blue jay squawking than meets the ear. The advanced vocalizations warn of predators, folks, and even alert different Blue Jays to extra meals!
Truth #8: Blue Jays fly gradual.
You’d suppose for being a big, aggressive fowl that Blue Jays would fly quick!
Not the case.
Though they appear to fly effortlessly with solely the occasional wing flap, they’re doing so fairly leisurely.
Blue Jays usually fly round 20-25 mph. For reference, geese can fly 60 mph, and falcons can attain speeds of 200 mph! Attributable to this, they make simple prey for hawks, owls, and falcons. Blue Jays are usually extremely conscious of different birds of their neighborhood and might clarify why they’ve a hawk alarm system!
I assume class might be fairly expensive.
Truth #9: Blue Jays are very clever.
Blue Jays are sensible. Severely sensible.
They’re a member of the Corvidae household, which incorporates ravens and crows, and consequentially, they’re extraordinarily clever. Actually, many scientists take into account this Corvid household of birds to be the neatest animals on Earth.
Listed below are a number of examples to display their brainy behaviors:
- Brown-headed cowbirds are generally identified to sneak into different birds’ nests and lay eggs, abandoning their younger to foster dad or mum birds! Nonetheless, Blue Jays are too clever for this. As a substitute, the jays take a look at it as scorching supply meals and have contemporary eggs for lunch.
- Blue Jays in captivity have been noticed utilizing instruments to acquire meals, resembling dragging strips of newspaper to convey meals shut sufficient to succeed in or manipulating locks on cages to flee.
- Jays are sensible sufficient to know the precept of ready. They’re identified to take a seat again and wait whereas people are having lunch after which swoop down and end scraps when they’re completed. On high of this, many farmers observe them ready till they’re finished planting to assist themselves to a leisurely feast of seeds!
Truth #10: Blue Jays like acorns.
So why is that attention-grabbing?
Properly, Blue Jays retailer numerous nuts (notably acorns) as a winter meals supply.
Many acorns which are saved are by no means recovered from the place they have been buried or hidden. These acorns which are misplaced have the potential to develop into oak timber and create new forests. Their affection for acorns is credited with serving to unfold oak timber after the final glacial interval!
Blue Jays and oak timber have a productive symbiotic relationship with one another. Blue Jays get acorns to eat and in return, assist unfold and plant extra timber to develop!
Truth #11: Blue Jays take “baths” in ants
Or at the very least it appears to be like like they do.
Blue Jays interact in one thing known as “anting.” This habits entails spreading their wings, tucking their tail down, and continuing to crush and rub ants on their feathers earlier than consuming them.
Though not a Blue Jay, this fowl is demonstrating the identical “anting” habits. Bizarre, proper?
Imagine it or not, there’s a completely cheap rationalization for this habits. Ants use formic acid as a weapon in opposition to predators resembling Blue Jays. Formic acid makes ants bitter tasting and birds don’t like that!
When a jay rubs an ant onto its feathers, it’s purposely getting the formic acid on itself. The formic acid helps maintain away micro organism, fungus, mites, and different small bugs.
And as a bonus, as soon as the formic acid is eliminated, Blue Jays are then capable of eat and benefit from the ants. 🙂
Truth #12: Blue Jays type monogamous bonds.
As soon as the feminine Blue Jay chooses her mate, they usually turn out to be monogamous mates for all times.
Moreover, Blue Jay dads aren’t deadbeats!
Each male and females construct the nest and rear the younger. Whereas the feminine is sitting on her eggs, the male will feed and handle her!
The tight household bond doesn’t finish there. The complete household will depart the nest and journey collectively as soon as the younger are round 17-21 days outdated.
Truth #13: Their migration patterns are…bizarre.
Not like different birds, Blue Jays would not have a predictable migration sample. Blue Jays will typically keep in a habitat year-round. Then, out of the blue, they may determine emigrate and head south!
Why keep for years on finish after which out of the blue choose up and depart for no obvious purpose, solely to return the following spring? To be trustworthy, nobody is 100% positive.
The most effective rationalization for this odd habits is that it’s associated to climate circumstances and the way ample the winter meals sources are within the space.
Truth #14: Blue Jays wish to get together!
As we now have talked about, jays are loud, boisterous birds that usually make a giant entrance.
So we shouldn’t be stunned {that a} group of Blue Jays is also known as a “get together” or a “band”.
The Takeaway
Love them or hate them, these birds are survivors, spurred on by their phenomenal intelligence.
They are often loud and they are often bullies, however they’re additionally stunning creatures that deserve our respect and admiration.
Given the suitable feeders, meals, and preparation, they may make a stupendous addition to your yard!