Blue jay is a small bird that belongs to the family of Cyanocitta cristata and is a resident of North America. I don't like blue jays to begin with, but now they are killing my bees by the dozens! This article demonstrates blue jay facts that are rarely known elsewhere. The blue jay's âJay! Blue jays are omnivores, or animals that eat a mix of nuts, seeds, plants, and other animals. One in particular comes down to feed in front of me when I call him. It appears to be only a small percentage (1%) who do.Unfortunately, their own eggs and nestlings may fall prey to squirrels, cats, crows, snakes, raccoons, possums, hawks, and various other animals.Male and female blue jays are nearly identical, except that the male is larger.Logic would seem to dictate that the larger male would be more aggressive. In North and South America, the summer tanager feeds primarily on bees and wasps, grabbing other flying insects when a bee isn't readily available.Other birds who eat bees do so only on occasion, not as a main diet staple. So what is a blue jay? It has black and blue plumage, a white face and a thick bill.Those who have spent time or live in central or eastern North America tend to recognize them easily.They are mostly often remembered for that bright blue color, as there aren’t a wealth of boldly colored birds in this part of the world.Attracting blue jays to an area can be tough though, so read on if you want to know more about how to bring them to your area or are just curious enough to ask ‘what do blue jays eat’?Pretty as the blue jay is, it is an aggressive and noisy bird with unique Blue Jays will eat a variety of insects. So⦠what exactly do blue jays eat?These birds are about the size of a teacup, weighing between 2 and 4 ounces, and adults range between 9-12 inches from beak to tail. These birds are also found in the southeastern Canada and Central United States. Backyard bird enthusiasts often dislike blue jays because they can bully other smaller birds, preventing them from accessing feeders.In terms of their plant preference, blue jays will seek out seeds, nuts and acornsâenergy-rich and widely available. Such wonderful little creatures. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. They prefer the plump honey bees and bumble bees, but they also eat wasps, hornets, dragonflies and other flying insects. On that same walk, you may remember a flash of cerulean blue from the corner of your eyeâa blue jay!
A Blue Jay (unless it is the toronto Blue Jays mascott) couldnt eat enough to make a noticable difference in the hive. There have even been limited examples of tool-using in blue jays, a common measurement of cognitive ability in animals.If anything clearly proves the intelligence of these birds, it is their prowess in always finding some type of food source!Blue jays are not only some of the prettiest birds in North America, but also some of the most intelligent, daring and resourceful! Blue jays are slow in flight, making them an easy target for birds of prey; however, their hawk-mimicking call may serve as a warning system for other members of the species as soon as a predator is spotted. I plan to put out the food you suggested. These relatively small birds have a massive appetite. The blue jay will whip the caterpillar around to remove the undesirable bristles and then swallow it … If you’re squeamish about seeing a small mouse get gutted, or you like the presence of frogs and other little critters in your yard, then attracting blue jays to your yard may not be in your best interest.With blue jays, as with anything, the good comes with the not so good.While blue jays prove to be boisterous, noisy and aggressive at times, the trade-off comes in the ability to observe and appreciate their stunning plumage. The blue jay will whip the caterpillar around to remove the undesirable bristles and then swallow it down.Along with insects, it is nuts, fruits, grains, and acorns that account for 75% of the blue jay’s diet.Blue Jays do resort to other extreme feeding measures, though. The consumption of caterpillars is especially beneficial during seasons when there are caterpillar infestations, such as gypsy moths. Particularly in the north on those long gray winter days when we could all use a little more color.For further reading, you might find it interesting to look into John James Audubon’s account of the blue jay from his book, Birds of America. Found throughout the central and northern United States, migration patterns may also carry them into the northwest for certain parts of the year. Even the same blue jay individuals and families will be inconsistent in their migrating, making a long journey one year, and then staying put the next!These are social birds, but prefer smaller groups, often forming monogamous partnerships and family groups, or small flocks of up to 250 birds (particularly during migration).
Blue Jays have a bad reputation and justified I guess if a person takes moral exception to nest raiders and birds that will eat anything that doesn't get out of their way. The squirrels will stand at the feeder and eat not allowing anything else near it.
Jay!â call is only one of a wide variety of sounds the bird employsâincluding excellent imitations of several hawk calls.Blue jays are sometimes known to eat eggs or nestlings, and it is this practice that has tarnished their reputation. My blue jays’ favorite feeder is a heavy duty 10″ dog food bowl filled each morning with peanuts, shelled and unshelled, along with sunflower seeds and small chunks of apples.Once you attract 2 blue jays, you’ll notice the numbers will quickly grow to 4, 6, 8, 12 and more.