If you are living in Canada or some areas of the United States, then you might be familiar with the loud calls of this bird.

You might also be familiar with their distinguishable blue-colored feathers as they visit your backyard to feed or get a drink of water.

These loud and beautiful creatures, more often than not, are blue jays. Many may know them only as the namesake of the Canadian sports team, but there is a lot to learn about these hardy avians.

This is a detailed look at one of the prettiest natures that you can commonly find in both forests and residential areas. The spotlight for today is the blue jay, a playful species that is smarter than your average bird.

Photo byDavid BridleonUnsplash

Blue Jay Classification

Blue jays have had different descriptions since they were first described in 1731. In Mark Catesby’s Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahamas, the blue jay was described as Pica glandaria, caerulea, cristata, translated as blue-crested magpie in Latin.

It was then described as Corvus cristatus by Carl Linnaeus and as Cyanocorax cristatus by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1758 and 1838, respectively. These names describe the blue crest of the jay, one of its most distinguishable features.

The blue jay is currently known by its scientific name Cyanocitta cristata, coined by Hugh Edwin Strickland in 1845. This literally means “blue chatterer” in Greek.

Blue jay birds are passerine, classified as such due to the arrangement of their feet which allows for perching. They belong to the family Corvidae and the genus Cyanocitta. This makes species such as crows and magpies their close relations.

There are four known subspecies of blue jays, namely:

• Northern Blue Jay
• Coastal Blue Jay
• Interior Blue Jay
• Florida Blue Jay

These species vary slightly in size and are distributed in different locations across Canada and the United States. The Florida Blue Jay is the exception as it can be exclusively found in Southern Florida.

The different subspecies share the same blue and white color hues, although the brightness of the plumage will vary from species to species.

Usual Appearance of Blue Jays

Blue jays are colored blue and white. Their blue coloration can range from lavender-like to light blue and can be found all over its body in areas such as the back, wings, tail, and crest.

Some parts of the wing and tail are black, as well as their eyes, beak, face, throat, and legs.

It is interesting to note that blue jays’ feathers are blue not because of pigmentation but rather because of the effect that it has when light scatters on the surface of the feathers.

When crushed or seen from an angle, the feathers actually have a brownish hue. This is due to the melanin pigmentation found within the feathers. This is typical amongst other blue-hued birds as well.

Blue jays typically weigh between 70 to 100 grams and measure 9 to 12 inches from bill to tail, depending on the season and the species. Males are typically larger than females.

These birds can be distinguished by their crest. This crest rises when excited, agitated, or threatened. When relaxed, it is flat on the head. Theories have been raised that raised crests give the impression of them being larger to avoid predators and other threats.

Individual blue jays may also be distinguished by the black plumage on their face. These often serve as facial features and may be used to distinguish one blue jay from another.

Blue jays are known to have a variety of calls, ranging from jay-jay calls, squeaks, clicks, and piping calls. They have also been known to be able to mimic the screams of predators, specifically the red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks.

Blue jays reach sexual maturity after about a year. The typical life expectancy of blue jays is around 7 years, although there have been records of blue jays reaching 17 up to 26 years of age, the latter of which died through unnatural causes.

As such, it is unknown as to how long blue jays will live up to in the absence of predation, accidents, lack of food, or other means aside from old age.

Where are Blue Jays Found?

Blue jays can be found from Southern Canada to Eastern and Central United States. They can often be found along forest edges as well as around residential areas and parks where there are lots of trees and other food sources.

Blue jays prefer oak, beech, or pine woods, although they prefer areas where there are more deciduous woods.

Due to the increase and decrease of trees in different locations along its main areas of habitation, blue jays are known to rise and fall in population. They may also move to different areas and act as residents in these locations.

This is also the reason why blue jays become regulars in the area and more common in places such as east of the Rocky Mountains, Manitoba, Quebec, and Nova Scotia where previous blue jay populations were not quite as large.

Photo by Mohankumaar Chandran

Blue Jays in Popular Culture

The blue jay is quite popular as a symbol. Perhaps the most recognizable use of the blue jay is by the Toronto Blue Jays of the Major Baseball League organization. Aside from the name, they have Ace the Blue Jay serving as their mascot.

Schools such as Creighton University, Elmhurst University, and John Hopkins University also have the blue jay as their official mascot.

The Government of Prince Edward in Canada has likewise adopted the blue jay as their official provincial bird, a move that they made back in 1977.

In folklore, blue jays were believed to have created the earth by bringing dirt and creating land when it was still covered in water.

In others, they are believed to be servants of the devil, gathering wood and twigs for their version of hell where wicked men are burnt.

Conclusion

While common, blue jays are definitely interesting creatures, with a personality that certainly distinguishes them from other birds.

It is also nice to appreciate these birds and their wonderful qualities as they have earned their place in nature — and our neighborhoods — with their tenacity and resiliency.