Blue jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Identification Tips:
- Length: 10 inches
- Black sturdy bill
- Blue crest and upperparts
- Black eyeline and breastband
- Grayish-white throat and underparts
- Bright blue wings with black bars and white patches
- Long blue tail with black bars and white corners
- Dark legs
- Migrates during the day in small flocks
Similar species:
Because of its large size, blue coloration and crest the Blue Jay is quite
distinctive. Steller's Jay has dark underparts. Other jays lack a crest and
have different markings.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.