Blue CEDARCREEK cristata

Eyes on the Wild Description Large crested songbird, has a broad, rounded tail. Body is various shades of blue with black and white, white or light gray underside. Size (on average) Height:9.8-11.8 inches Weight:2.5-3.5 oz. Wingspan: 13.4-16.9 inches Preference Forest edges near trees. Diet Omnivorous. Forages for insects, nuts, and seeds. Common behaviors and things to look for in camera images Their blue color is distinctive! They are seen hopping on the ground in front of the cameras, particularly on logs or sand roads. FUN FACTS Phenology ▪ Blue jays often stuff food in their throat Blue jays do migrate but their migration patterns aren’t pouch to eat later. well understood. Migration varies among individuals and ▪ Blue jays are very smart, social and have from year to year. Blue jays are commonly found at tight family bonds. Cedar Creek year-round, and studies of color-banded have shown that most jays at Cedar Creek are ▪ Blue jays communicate with one another residents and do not migrate. through calls and body language. Blue jays often mate for life. Females lay 2-7 . ▪ The lower the crest, the lower the Usually just the female incubates, for 16-18 days, but aggression level. the male provides her food. There is lots of variation of how long it takes for the young to become independent.

Status at Cedar Creek Very common, and highly successful. They likely nest in all wooded areas at Cedar Creek.

Photo courtesy Jim Gindorff

© Cornell University 2017 Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is a University of Minnesota biological field station. Photos are References: Eyes on the Wild Field Guide from the Cedar Creek field cameras. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue_Jay/lifehistory, https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/blue-jay