Month 4 · April · Wave 1

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata · Corvidae

Brilliant blue comes from feather structure, not blue pigment.

At a glance

Size: 9–12 in
Wingspan: 13–17 in
Habitat: Oak woods, suburbs, parks
Diet: Acorns, nuts, seeds, insects; occasionally eggs

Range: Eastern and central North America

Nesting: Bulky twig nest in a tree crotch, often well hidden in foliage.

Coloring pose idea: Crested bird caching an acorn

Hear this bird

General call / song: Harsh jay-jay; also musical whistles and mimicry.

Mating / display: Quieter, more musical notes between mates near the nest; soft rattle courtship sounds.

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Play calls on All About Birds Species overview Audubon field guide

How to know it

Blue crest, white face, black necklace, bold white wing bars.
Loud and conspicuous; often travels in small noisy groups.
Flight is deliberate with shallow wingbeats between glides.

Behavior

Famous acorn cachers — important oak dispersers.
Can mimic hawk calls; may clear a feeder when they arrive.
Highly intelligent social corvids with complex calls.

Fun facts

Blue fades to brown-gray if feathers are crushed — structural color.
May migrate in loose flocks along ridges in fall.
Shows strong problem-solving in studies.

Companion page for the Birds Coloring Calendar series by R. J. D. B. Fact summaries are original educational text. Call playback via link to All About Birds / Cornell Lab. Re-test QR codes on a phone before final print. Not affiliated with Cornell Lab or Audubon.

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