Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Originally occupants of woodlands, Blue Jays have successfully adapted to the changing landscape within Ohio. They are
widely distributed summer residents and were recorded in every
priority block during the Atlas Project. Breeding Bird Surveys
indicate this species is most numerous in the Glaciated Plateau
physiographic region, with a noticeable decline in abundance in
the Till Plain, Unglaciated Plateau, and Illinoian Till Plain
regions. Blue Jays are least numerous in the Lake Plain region
where woodland habitats and shaded residential areas are
scarcest.
The distribution of Blue Jays in Ohio may have changed
slightly during the 20th century. Jones (1903) considered
them to be common residents “except in the southeastern counties”. Hicks (1935) described a similar
distribution pattern, noting they were fairly common
to abundant summer residents except in southeastern
Ohio. However, he cited breeding records from every
county. He later described their relative abundance on
the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau as fairly common
to very common in every county north to Hocking
and Morgan, becomming uncommon in Athens and
Washington counties and generally rare to uncommon farther north along the plateau (Hicks 1937). In
subsequent decades, their populations undoubtedly
increased along this plateau. This increase was
largely undescribed except for the comments of
Buchanan (1980) who noted improved numbers in
portions of Carroll and Jefferson counties after 1957.
Blue Jays are familiar residents of shaded residential areas, parks, cemeteries, and similar habitats in
cities and villages throughout Ohio. They are equally
numerous in woodland habitats, but prefer the better
drained oak and beech woods where mast is readily
available. While nesting pairs will occupy the edges of
extensive mature forests, they are also found in small isolated
woodlots surrounded by agricultural fields, wooded fencerows,
and narrow riparian corridors. Breeding jays are more numerous
in second growth habitats with fairly dense understories, shrub
layers, and numerous tangles than in mature forests and younger
successional habitats.
In residential areas, Blue Jays prefer to place their nests in
coniferous shrubs and trees at heights of 8–15 feet. In woodland
habitats where conifers are normally absent, jay nests are
normally well concealed in dense vines and small trees. This
species will rarely utilize other nest sites, such as under the eaves
of houses, in a mailbox, and in tree roots overhanging the rim of
an earthen bank (Peck and James 1987, Henninger 1906).
Within Ohio, nest construction has been reported as early as
March 15–18 but is normally most prevalent during April
(Mathena et al. 1984, Williams 1950). The first clutches are
produced during the second half of April, hatch by mid–May,
and fledge during the first week of June (Peterjohn 1989a).
However, most first clutches are laid during May and the young
jays fledge between June 15 and July 5 (Trautman 1940,
Williams 1950). Some pairs will raise two broods. Late breeding
attempts are responsible for reports of nests with eggs through
June 30 and recently fledged young during the second half of
July. An exceptionally late nest produced fledglings on Septem-
Alvin E. Staffan
ber 1, 1940 (Walker 1940a).
Despite the difficulties in locating their nests, Blue Jays were
confirmed in 302 priority blocks during the Atlas Project. Active
nests were discovered in 128 priority blocks while adults
carrying food for young were noted in 99 blocks and recently
fledged young were recorded in another 60 blocks. The “30”
code was not accepted for this species, and the other confirmed
codes were utilized in the few remaining blocks. Reports of
probable breeders outnumbered the confirmed records, with most
of the probable records consisting of territorial individuals and
pairs in suitable habitats. The few reports of possible breeders
almost certainly pertained to jays which would have nested in
those priority blocks.
206
Other Observations
Special Areas
Blocks
Confirmed
Probable
Possible
Analysis of Block Data by Physiographic Region
Physiographic
Region
Lake Plain
Till Plain
Ill. Till Plain
Glaciated Plateau
Unglaciated Plateau
Total
Blocks
Blocks
with
Surveyed Data
95
271
46
140
212
95
271
46
140
212
%
with
Data
Regional
%
for Ohio
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
12.4
35.5
6.0
18.3
27.8
207
Ave. # Individ
per BBS Route
(1982–1987)
6.8
9.6
11.5
19.2
8.1
Summary of
Breeding Status
No. of Blocks in Which
Species Recorded
Total
764
100.0%
Confirmed
Probable
Possible
302
356
106
39.5%
46.6%
Blue Jay