Blue Jays are among some of the most recognized backyard birds in North America. Whether you’re an experienced bird watcher or just interested in these beautiful songbirds that you often see in your backyard, you should find this article interesting and informative. Keep reading for 23 fun facts about Blue Jays!
23 fun facts about Blue Jays
1. One of Blue Jays’ favorite foods is acorns.
Blue Jays typically live on the edge of forests, and they enjoy acorns tremendously, among other seeds and nuts. They are found near oak trees a lot because of their interest in eating the acorns.
2. Blue Jays aren’t actually blue.
Blue Jays are identifiable by the crest on their heads and their blue, white, and black plumage. The dark pigment in their feathers is melanin. A trick of the light causes the blue color in their feathers. Scattering light through modified cells on their feather barbs’ surface makes their feathers appear to be blue.
3. Blue Jays are omnivores.
While Blue Jays eat mostly seeds, berries, and nuts, they occasionally enjoy eating insects as well.
4. Female and male Blue Jays look the same.
This is a rare characteristic among birds, and it is called sexual monomorphism, meaning the males and females look the same. Other species of birds have males and females that look very different, which is called sexual dimorphism. With male and female Blue Jays having similar plumage, it’s difficult to tell them apart. However, male Blue Jays are slightly larger.
5. Blue Jays live a long time.
On average, Blue Jays live about five to seven years, but the oldest known Blue Jay lived for at least 26 years and 11 months.
6. The Blue Jay is not a state bird.
Seven US states claim the Northern Cardinal as their state bird, but the Blue Jay is not recognized as a state bird in any US state. However, they are the mascot of a Major League Baseball Team, the Toronto Blue Jays.
7. Blue Jays act as a natural alarm system for other birds.
Like many small birds, one of the predators of the Blue Jay is the Red-shouldered Hawk. They warn other birds of the hawk’s presence by imitating the sound of the hawk when they see one.
8. Blue Jays make a lot of sounds.
These intelligent birds like to chatter a lot. They can imitate the sounds of predators, and otherwise, their sounds range from lovely chirps in the morning to loud and obnoxious squawks. It used to be a jay referred to a person who was a chatterbox and liked to dominate the conversation, so Blue Jays definitely live up to their name.
