Blue Jay - (Cyanocitta cristata) 

 Audio

Identification

• Medium-sized, crested songbird
• Various shades of blue above, with black
       barring on wings and tail
• Whitish below
• Some black on head near eyes, black
       necklace
• White patches on wings, white at end of tail
• Stout black bill
• 11" (28 cm.)
  

Habitat

• Deciduous and mixed forests,
• Residential areas
  

Additional Information

• Abundant migrant, common summer and
       winter resident, often gregarious
• In winter, some jays migrate south from
       northern areas
• Gives strident "jay" call, along with many
       other calls, including imitations of other
       birds' calls
• Becomes quiet and secretive during
       nesting season
• May be aggressive toward other birds
• Provides alarm calls when avian or
       mammalian predators are in area