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Thursday, October 7. 2021

Do Blue Jays migrate?

This colorful species of the jay family is fairly common from the East coast of the US to the eastern edge of the Rockies. In winter here I occasionally find their feathers scattered around where a Sharp-Shinned Hawk has caught one for dinner.


Apparently some migrate and some don't. It is termed "partial migration."  I have seen large flocks migrating south along the Hudson River. However, there are always plenty of them around in a New England winter especially if you put bird food out. 


Factoid: they mate for life, like Canada Geese. How do they know who is who, because they all look the same?


Posted by Bird Dog in Natural History and Conservation at 13:10 | Comments (9) | Trackbacks (0)

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Last year I happened to hit one with my truck. I had no idea it was stuck to my truck grille . I saw it and put it in woods next to my house . Within 10 minutes I had at least 15 or more Blue Jays calling and looking at the dead one for others to come I never before or since have heard such a cry from Jays
#1 Joe S. on 2021-10-07 17:55 (Reply)
Rescued a juvenile from a cat a couple years ago.
The entire Blue Jay village was out in force.
Put the young one in a box on the deck overnight.
Set him out the following morning. Huge rescue party showed up.

They are now my favorites at the feeder.
I line up peanuts on the deck rail and whistle to them as they come in.

They have the same level of smarts that Crows do.
#2 Snow Greg on 2021-10-07 18:05 (Reply)
I suspect all humans look alike to blue jays. You bird racist, you!
#3 Mike Anderson (Link) on 2021-10-07 18:54 (Reply)
They appear here in SWFL from time to time. Those must be the adventurous ones. I always had a love/hate relationship with them at my winter feeders in Upstate NY.
#4 Alex G on 2021-10-07 20:50 (Reply)
Most of the Blue Jays from Toronto migrate to Dunedin, Florida for the winter. Really!
https://www.milb.com/dunedin/
#5 Earl Wertheimer on 2021-10-07 21:10 (Reply)
Early in the fall and again early in the spring they're at out feeders here in Northern Rockies. Always a pleasure to see something bright and colorful here in March
#6 Dennis on 2021-10-08 09:13 (Reply)
It seems like I see/hear them from time to time, all year 'round. But they are a lot more prevalent in the winter. Is it because I hang feeders out with a steady supply of seed, or is it because some of them are migrating here to Texas for the winter? Don't know.

Interesting comments above re: flock behaviors. I had not noticed that, but will watch for it now.
#7 Aggie on 2021-10-08 16:16 (Reply)
“Do Blue Jays migrate?”

I’ve never seen a Blue Jay and a coconut at the same time in the wild, so I must conclude the answer is, “no.”
#8 I Am What I Am on 2021-10-09 08:29 (Reply)
"Where'd you get them coconuts?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4_9kDO3q0w
#8.1 Aggie on 2021-10-09 13:21 (Reply)

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