by DJ Featherton
If the royal red Cardinal is your backyard heroic protagonist, then the flashy blue Blue Jay has to be the obnoxious backyard antagonist. But, wait! Don’t we all love that handsome and dangerous villain, the Blue Jay? Just because he’s big and loud and bosses everyone around doesn’t mean his radiant blue and white and great feathered crest don’t command attention. And, just because he enjoys an occasional egg or two, or a nice chick dinner now and then doesn’t mean he’s the only bird with such an appetite. Let’s face it, ya gotta love the Blue Jay!
The Blue Jay is spectacular. Aside from the predominantly bright blue back and tail feathers, they have a white face, throat and chin bordered by a black necklace that extends from the nape to the breast. Their underparts are bright white. Their bill is long, stout and pointy, and their head displays a large distinguished crest that is raised and lowered with the bird’s emotions. Both male and female look alike, and mate for life.
Because he’s a big and loud songbird, his spectacle has caused some undeserved tarnish to his reputation. A quick raid on another bird’s nest does not make him different from other birds. Just ask the little house wren! In fact, the Blue Jay is pretty much vegetarian. His diet is the usual bird stuff like acorns, nuts and seeds. They also eat insects, caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles and the like. I once watched a Blue Jay fly to the ground and attack a small garter snake. The snake was no bigger than a pencil, but the Jay fought it and thrashed it around forever until he finally flew away with the snake in his mouth. Blue Jays are able to fill a throat pouch with food items that they hide in there for later feeding. And, of course, after chasing away other birds, they are pleased to enjoy our backyard feeders for themselves.
There is a reason why Blue Jays seem obnoxious and aggressive. It’s because they are naturally curious and smart. In fact, very smart. The Blue Jay is a member of the Corvidae family (not to be confused with the Don Corleone family) which includes Ravens and Crows. Many scientists consider the Corvid family of birds to be the smartest animals on Earth! They are aggressive to any potential threat. Should an owl or hawk be seen too close to home, the Jays will bombard them and screech at them until the predators leave. It’s not uncommon to see young Jays playing with shiny objects like bottle caps or other things they find. These guys are a special breed of their own.
There are various breeds of Jays in North America, but the Blue Jay seems predominant. His range is from the Rocky Mountains to the eastern seaboard, and from southern Canada through the southern states. We all know him. He is the bossiest bird in the entire area. He’s loud and obnoxious, and he’s one of the most beautiful songbirds to ever frequent our backyard feeders. Ya gotta love the Blue Jay!
“I’ve heard Blue Jays come from the mold
Of the bullyish, brutish and bold.
But the ones that I feed
Are a scared, skittish breed.
I guess mine simply weren’t told!“
By Kathy Doremus
There are eight other varieties of Jays in North America. Click on their name below to be taken to All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s page:
