Blue Jays

This common, large songbird is familiar to many people, with its perky  crest; blue, white, and black plumage; and noisy calls. Blue Jays are  known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight  family bonds. Their fondness for acorns is credited with helping spread oak trees after the last glacial period.

Blue Jays prefer tray feeders or hopper  feeders on a post rather than hanging feeders, and they prefer peanuts,  sunflower seeds, and suet. Planting oak trees will make acorns available  for jays of the future. Blue Jays often take drinks from birdbaths.  Find out more about what this bird likes to eat and what feeder is best  by using the Project FeederWatch Common Feeder Birds bird

Blue Jays are most often detected by  their noisy calls. They frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the  Red-shouldered Hawk. These calls may provide information to other jays  that a hawk is around, or may be used to deceive other species into  believing a hawk is present.
Blue Jays lower their crests when they are feeding peacefully with family and flock members or tending to

Blue Jays are most often detected by  their noisy calls. Near shorelines they migrate in loose flocks; you can  recognize them by their steady flight, rounded wings, long tail, and  white underside. Resident birds may associate in flocks; they usually  fly across open areas one at a time, often silently. Also watch for them  at feeders.