1. Their Feathers Aren’t Really Blue!
Blue Jays have beautiful blue feathers. But did you know that their feathers aren't actually blue with pigment?
It's all thanks to something called "light interference"!
This means the way light hits their feathers makes them look blue, just like how the sky looks blue even though there isn't blue paint in it!
2. They Love Acorns
Blue Jays will gather acorns and hide them for winter, kind of like squirrels. They bury thousands of acorns to eat later when food is sparse.
Since they sometimes forget where they buried them. The forgotten acorns grow into new oak trees.
3. They are Master Mimics
Blue jays can copy the sounds of other birds and even hawks!
They often do this to trick other birds into thinking a predator is nearby so they can have the bird feeder all to themselves.
4. They Have a "Mood Crest"
Check out the feathers on top of a blue jay's head—that’s called a crest. The crest looks like a mohawk.
When they are excited or angry, the crest stands straight up. When they are relaxed or with their families, it lays flat.
5. They Carry Food in Their Throats
Blue jays have a special pouch in their throat called a gular pouch. This allows them to carry up to five acorns at once—three in their throat, one in their mouth, and one in the tip of their beak!
Other birds like Pelicans and Cormorants have gular pouches, too.
6. Birds of a Feather Stick Together
Blue jays are very social and usually stay with the same mate for their entire lives.
They work together as a team to build their nests out of twigs, bark, and even mud to keep their babies safe.
- Related: 10 Shocking Facts About Bald Eagles
7. Blue Jays are Really Smart
Blue jays belong to the same family as crows and ravens called Corvidae. These birds are some of the smartest animals on the planet.
They have been known to make and use tools, like using a piece of paper to scoop up food!
8. They Are Very Protective
Blue jays are the bodyguards of the backyard. If they see a cat or an owl, they make a very loud "jay-jay-jay" sound to warn all the other birds in the neighborhood to hide.
9. Blue Jays Aren't Picky Eaters
While they love nuts and seeds, blue jays are omnivores. This means they eat a little bit of everything, including insects, fruits, and occasionally even small frogs or eggs.
Bird feeders with all kinds of food can attract blue jays. Unsalted sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, elderberries, peanuts, and cracked corn are all well liked by blue jays.
10. They’re Homebodies
Unlike some birds that fly thousands of miles south for the winter, many blue jays stay in the same area all year long.
If you provide peanuts or suet in the winter, they will visit your bird feeder often!
Have you seen a Blue Jay lately?
Share them on the Sparkbird App! Available in the Apple App Store.
- Related: How to Use the Sparkbird App
