Field Guide

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Aves › Passeriformes › Corvidae › Cyanocitta

Conservation status: least_concern

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Photo: (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY), cc-by

The Blue Jay is a striking bird with brilliant blue plumage on its back and wings, white underparts, and a distinctive pointed crest on its head that raises when alarmed. Known for their intelligence and loud calls, Blue Jays are bold and social birds commonly seen at feeders across eastern North America, where they often mimic the calls of hawks and play an important role in dispersing acorns by burying them for winter food.

How To Identify

These medium-sized birds are instantly recognizable by their vibrant crest of cobalt blue feathers and contrasting black markings on their wings and tail edges.

Habitat

It lives in forests, parks, and suburban gardens across eastern and central North America.

Behaviour

The Blue Jay is highly intelligent and caches thousands of acorns and seeds for winter use.

Native Range

The blue jay is native to eastern North America.

Did You Know?

Blue Jays can mimic the calls of hawks to scare other birds away from food sources.

Create a free account to log your sightings of the Blue Jay, see where it has been recorded near you and build your Wild List.

Privacy · Terms · Credits · Join the beta