Blue Jay
(Cyanocitta cristata)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
The male is slightly larger but otherwise nearly identical to the female. |
Size |
11″ to 12½″ in length 16″ wingspan |
Voice |
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A loud, screaming, jay-jay-jay |
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A high note followed quickly by a low note, the pair often repeated rapidly two or three times, and sounding melodious. It is often called the “rusty pump call.” It can also imitate a red-shouldered hawk. |
Similar Species |
Habitat |
Mixed and deciduous forests, agricultural areas, suburban areas, city parks |
Ecology |
Migration |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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Distribution |
Occurrence |
Common to abundant |
Maps |
The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
Taxonomy |
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Class |
Aves (birds) |
Order |
Passeriformes (perching birds) |
Family |
Corvidae (crows, jays, and magpies) |
Genus |
Cyanocitta (blue and Steller’s jays) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Coastal Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata cristata) Florida Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata semplei) Interior Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata cyanotephra) Northern Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata bromia) |
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Synonyms |
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Visitor Photos |
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Gina |
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Four separate birds visit our homes bird feeder. |
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Luciearl |
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Every morning for 3 yrs. the blue jays make a visit for peanuts in the shell. If I forget, they'll let me know. I'll hear them begging outside. |
Gregory Gilman |
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Ramona Abrego |
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Lynn Rubey |
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A Blue Jay flew onto the top of these vines feeding on berries. Along the Ortonville Bike trail. |
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The Blue Jay turned and looked at me and my grand daughter before going back to feeding. |
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The Blue Jay taking off after feeding. |
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Kathy Ross |
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...a blue bird sitting on her eggs in a lilac bush next to our deck. It was very easy to take the photos, because she was not going to budge for anything |
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Trisha |
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Female Blue Jay |
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Tom Baker |
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Bill Reynolds |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
Blue Jay |
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Blue Jays |
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Blue Jay |
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About
Cyanocitta cristata |
Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Birds USA... Blue Jays |
About
Published on Feb 1, 2014 Cyanocitta cristata |
Blue Jay - January 26, 2014 |
About
Published on Jan 26, 2014 Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Wilderness Garden, Gagnon Wildlife Habitat, Pottersville, Somerset, Massachusetts, Sunday morning, January 26, 2014, 10:59 AM - Canon PowerShot SX50 HS MVI_71788; 8 sec. |
Blue Jay, "Fly Away" - December 4, 2013 |
About
Published on Dec 4, 2013 Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), Gagnon Wilderness Habitat, Pottersville, Somerset, Massachusetts, Wednesday afternoon, December 4, 2013, 12:43 PM - Canon PowerShot SX50 HS MVI_57998; 30 sec. Music: "Fly Away-UPPM" by KT (Rock, 0:28) |
Visitor Sightings |
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Gina |
Location: Delano MN Four separate birds visit our homes bird feeder. |
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| Luciearl 10/24/2021 |
Location: Lake Shore Every morning for 3 yrs. the blue jays make a visit for peanuts in the shell. If I forget, they'll let me know. I'll hear them begging outside |
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Nanna Bonnie |
Location: Yellow Medicine County Just 1 feeding at my feeders |
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| Ramona Abrego | Location: Washington and Becker Counties |
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| Lynn Rubey 10/28/2019 |
Location: Ortonville Bike Trail The Blue Jay turned and looked at me and my grand daughter before going back to feeding. |
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| Kathy Ross 6/4/2017 |
Location: Anoka County ...a blue bird sitting on her eggs in a lilac bush next to our deck. It was very easy to take the photos, because she was not going to budge for anything |
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| Trisha 12/9/2016 |
Female Blue Jay |
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| Gregory Gilman 2/24/2015 |
Location: Rochester, MN |
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| Tom Baker 5/1/2011 |
Location: Edenbrook Conservation Area |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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