Species: Cyanocitta cristata
Blue Jay
Species
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Corvidae
Genus
Cyanocitta
NatureServe
Classification
Other Global Common Names
geai bleu
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Birds - Perching Birds
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Aves - Passeriformes - Corvidae - Cyanocitta - Hybridizes infrequently with C. STELLERI in eastern Colorado and may constitute a superspecies with it (AOU 1998).
Ecology and Life History
Migration
true - true - true - Northern populations are partially migratory to southern part of breeding range. See Graber et al. (1987) and Carpenter et al. (1990) for information on migrations in Midwest/Great Lakes region. Extent/volume of migration may depend on food supply.
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
true
Food Comments
Eats acorns, nuts, fruits, seeds, various insects and other invertebrates, and small vertebrates (Terres 1980). Individuals make many small food caches (especially of acorns) in the ground.
Reproduction Comments
Clutch size is 3-6 (usually 4-5). Incubation, mostly or only by female, lasts 16-18 days. Young are tended by both parents, leave nest at 17-21 days. Sometimes produces 2-3 broods annually in south.
Ecology Comments
Disperses heavy fruits (e.g., acorns) of forest trees; may influence/enhance reforestation.
Length
28
Weight
87
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-12-02
Global Status Last Changed
1996-12-02
Other Status
LC - Least concern
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
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Global Range
Mainly resident from east-central British Columbia to central Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, south to Texas, Gulf Coast, and southern Florida, west to longitude of Colorado; northern populations partially migratory. Irregular or casual to western U.S.