DESCRIPTION:
The blue jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to eastern North America. It lives in most of the eastern and central United States; some eastern populations may be migratory. Resident populations are also in Newfoundland, Canada; breeding populations are found across southern Canada.
Species: C. cristata
Family: Corvidae
Class: Aves
Genus: Cyanocitta
Order: Passeriformes
Phylum: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia
This common, large songbird is familiar to many people, with its perky crest; blue, white, and black plumage; and noisy calls. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight family bonds. These birds have a fondness for acorns and is credited with helping spread oak trees after the last glacial period.
Blue Jays make a large variety of calls that carry long distances. Most calls are produced while the blue jay is perched within a tree. Usually these birds fly across open areas silently, especially during migration. Stuffs food items in throat pouch to cache elsewhere; when eating, holds a seed or nut in feet and pecks it open.