BLUE JAY
Cyanocitta cristata cristata
Linnaeus, 1758
PHOTOZOO.ORG
CLASSIFICATION
LEAST CONCERN
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Identification: Adults can reach a total length of 30 cm for a weight of 100 g. Thick
black bill, small blue crest on head. Coloration is blue to grey-blue, brighter on wings,
nape and tail, duller on belly. Face light-grey blue with black collar.
3 other subspecies
Range: The species occurs from south Central Canada to most of the eastern and
central parts of USA, including Florida and coastal Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat : Forests, woodlands, forest edges, suburban parks and cities.
NOT LISTED
Behavior: The species feeds on mast crops, insects, berries, seeds, bird eggs and
sometimes fruits. Forages alone, in pairs or in flocks. Northern populations migratory.
Status in the wild: The species is common and its range is increasing. It adapts very
well to life in big cities. Previous declines noted because of west Nile virus.
VERY RARE
In captivity: This species is globally rare in captivity and is now only kept in American
zoos, mostly in small collections. It was first imported in Europe during the 1850s,
bred for the first time in 1970 and displayed for the last time there in 2011.