Blue jay is a songbird that belongs to the family of crows, and found in Central and Eastern parts of North America and South Canada.
Its face, throat and belly are white, while wings and tail are covered with white, black and blue plumage. It has a crest on top of the head.
It is known for being highly adaptable and intelligent. It makes an excellent imitation of several hawk calls to check if there are any hawks in the area.
It is an omnivore, eating seed, nuts, acorns, fruit, insects, eggs and young birds. Hawks, owls and cats prey on adult birds, while snakes, raccoons, squirrels, opossums and crows attack young birds and eggs.
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.
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.
Picture Credit : Google
