The first wild bird who trusted me was a western scrub-jay, a California relative of the blue jays who live in the eastern half of the US. Nesting Habits of the Blue Jay. She can be seen walking about, choosing her mate from a group of males rustling their feathers and bobbing their heads. How a western scrub-jay came to accept gifts from our hands . The male and female Blue Jay are identical: "Bright blue above with much white and black in the wings and tail; dingy white below; black facial markings; prominent crest" Steller's Jay is most numerous in dense coniferous woods of the mountains and the northwest coast, where its dark colors blend in well in the shadows. Other components of this species' nests are twigs, animal fur, plant fibers, moss, weeds, small roots, foliage, stems and pine needles. Male and female Steller's jays are both immensely protective of their constructions. Posts: 3,812 My location. The male finds the best twigs for their purpose that he can, which the female will inspect and choose from. Male and female blue jays look so much alike (sexually monomorphic), even the experts sometimes have a hard time telling them apart, except during the mating season. Sunday 20th June 2004, 06:21 #2: Rasmus Boegh. The male and female usually pair for life. Where I live there are no blue jays, there are only Stellar's. Location: right next door. The Steller's jay has a more slender bill and longer legs than the blue jay and has a much more pronounced crest. The crest, an elongated crown of feathers found in many jays, is raised or lowered according to the bird’s mood. The Way of a Jay . Normally it isn't possible to tell the female from the male Blue Jay just by the looks of it.
Scores. However, subtle differences can be observed during their courtship and mating ritual. Similar to blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata), Steller's jays also employ lots of mud in nest construction activities to keep the foundation of the nest secure. Female blue jays are bright blue with a bluish-cast white chest and belly, and the wings and tail appear "tiled" with blocks of blue, white and black. Female blue jays are usually smaller than male blue jays, but is physically similar. Blue jays are beautiful birds that inhabit the eastern and central parts of the United States, known for their bright blue feathers and the crest on their heads. They will then build several partially-completed practice nests together.
The official website of the Toronto Blue Jays with the most up-to-date information on scores, schedule, stats, tickets, and team news. Every morning I used to put out peanuts in the shell on the porch railing. There are a wide variety of jays in North America, a number of which are blue; however you specifically asked about blue jays, which are a particular type of jay. And crows, which at least to our eyes, are all the same color and size. How can you discern the difference between the two sexes of blue jays? The males and females of many bird species, like these Blue Jays, look identical. Male and female blue jays have identical plumages and can be absolutely identified only by their mating and nesting behaviors. When a male and female cardinal become a breeding pair, they mate for life. I felt the desire to post this as I have seen people on Ebird claiming to see "blue jays" well outside their range. Chances are good you’ve seen this jay the most. Is there a visual way to tell the difference between a male and female blue jay? The immature Blue Jay is very similar to the adults except that its coloring is more gray than blue … Photo credit: Susan Kennific (B&B reader) Photo credit: Susan Kennific (B&B reader) Male and female blue jays are very difficult to tell apart, because they have identical markings. Join Date: Mar 2003. Sortable Team Stats Top Rookies Tracker Top Prospects Stats Winter League Stats. News. In moments of high excitement and aggression the crest may be fully erected, forming a prominent peak. There is no marked difference in appearance between the male and female. The blue head feathers stand up in a crest that is accented with black. The nest is made from grass, small twigs, leaves, and bark and is sometimes "glued" together with mud. Probable Pitchers Official Releases Blue Jays Pipeline Blue Jays Prospects News Photo Stream RSS News Feed Blue Jays … Blue Jays build their nests in tree branches or where there is a "V" in the tree. Normally it isn't possible to tell the female from the male Blue Jay just by the looks of it. Male or Female Blue Jay?! Male and female Blue Jays are very similar in appearance.