Blue Jay
Friend or Foe? While many consider blue jays a pest, others can't get enough of this colorful flier. Learn how to attract blue jays to your yard, and listen to their song.
Photo: Roland Jordahl
- Scientific Name: Cyanocitta cristata.
- Family: Crow.
- Length: 11 inches.
- Wingspan: 16 inches.
- Distinctive Markings: Blue feathers and crest with gray breast.
- Nest: Well hidden and often found in the crotch of a tree 10 to 25 feet above the ground. Females lay and incubate four to five eggs.
- Song: Harsh scream, "jaaay, jaaay, jaaay." Has many other calls, including whistle phrases, rattles and a harsh "shkrrr."
- Habitat: Backyards, parks and woodlands.
- Diet: Omnivorous, including nuts, seeds, fruits, insects and frogs.
- Backyard Favorites: Feeders with suet, sunflower seeds or peanuts.
Listen to this bird’s song