Our featured feathered friend today is the Blue Jay. A year-round Florida resident, the Blue Jay is one of nine species that visit our backyard almost daily. The Blue Jay is a large songbird with a perky crest. It's plumage is various shades of blue, with black and white above, and with white or light gray underparts. Both sexes are similar in appearance. Juveniles are more grayish above with limited white markings on the wings.
They have a variety of noisy calls. They can mimic the call of a Red-Shouldered Hawk, sometimes used to deceive other birds into believing that a Hawk is present.
They have a variety of noisy calls. They can mimic the call of a Red-Shouldered Hawk, sometimes used to deceive other birds into believing that a Hawk is present.
It's diet is composed mostly of insects and nuts. They are particularly fond of acorns. In our backyard, it's all about peanuts. They stuff food items in a throat pouch to cache elsewhere. When eating, it will hold a seed or nut between it's feet to peck it open. They are known to be nest raiders, taking and eating eggs and nestlings of other birds. At feeders in Florida, Red-Headed Woodpeckers, Florida Scrub-Jays, Common Grackles, and Gray Squirrels strongly dominate Blue Jays, often preventing them from obtaining food. We've witnessed this on many occasions.
Native to North America, the Blue Jay can be found throughout most of the eastern and central U.S. and southern Canada. Most Jays are present throughout the winter in all parts of their range however, western populations may be migratory. Enjoy today's photos of the Blue Jay.....tweet.....tweet!!
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| Blue Jay (Taken 2/25/12, Our Backyard) |
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| Blue Jay (Juvenile) (Taken 7/31/11, Our Backyard) |
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