What secrets can you add to your backyard to attract blue jays? These birds are fun to watch with their bright blue feathers and fun actions. They live in your area all year and bring joy to bird lovers. This guide will show you how to make your garden a blue jay paradise. You’ll get to see them all year.
Blue jays eat many things like insects, nuts, seeds, fruits, small animals, and even other birds’ eggs and babies1. In spring and summer, they love to eat insects. But in fall and winter, they prefer nuts and seeds, like acorns1. They also like peanuts, large tree nuts, white millet, milo, and black-oil sunflower seeds1. If you offer their favorite foods, they’ll love your garden.
It’s important to have fresh, clean water for blue jays2. They like birdbaths with about 3 inches of water2. They also like moving water, like a dripper or wiggler3. A heated birdbath keeps water from freezing and attracts them all year2. Heated birdbaths or heaters help keep them in your backyard in winter1.
What Do Blue Jays Look Like?
Blue jays are big, colorful birds found in North America. They are 11 to 12 inches long and have a 16-inch wingspan4. They are among the largest birds you can see in your backyard.
They have a bright blue crest and back. Their breast is gray, and they have white and black patterns on their blue feathers4. It’s hard to tell if a blue jay is a male or female because they look alike.
Blue jays are bold and defend their territory and food.4 They make loud, harsh sounds. They can even mimic other birds and animals.
“Blue jays are one of the most recognizable and charismatic birds in North America, with their striking blue plumage and distinctive crest setting them apart from other common backyard visitors.”
Blue jays have big size, a blue crest, and a blue, gray, and white pattern4. Knowing these features helps birdwatchers spot and enjoy these amazing birds.
The Best Foods to Attract Blue Jays
Blue jays love to eat many different foods. Peanuts in any form – whole, shelled, or even peanut butter – are their favorites at backyard feeders.5 They also enjoy mealworms, suet cakes, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn or whole corn kernels5. Giving them a mix of these foods will attract blue jays and other birds too3.
Blue jays live in yards all year round and need big, strong feeders3. Putting different foods out can attract more birds, including blue jays.3 They also eat berries, bugs, and frogs, along with nuts and seeds.5
“Blue jays have been observed catching and crushing adult wasps around a small wasps’ nest.”5
Peanuts give blue jays protein and healthy fats. Acorns, hazelnuts, hickory, and other wild nuts make up 40% or more of their diet5. They learn to crack open peanuts by watching and trying. They also store seeds and peanuts in a special pouch for later5.
Blue jays help forests grow by hiding seeds and nuts in the soil.5 They like to eat from tray and hopper feeders or flat surfaces.5
How to Attract Blue Jays
Attracting blue jays to your backyard is fun for bird lovers. These birds are known for their bright blue feathers and loud calls3. To attract them, offer their favorite foods and make your yard welcoming.
One great way to attract blue jays is with peanuts, in or out of the shell4. They love peanuts and will visit feeders with peanut trays. Sunflower seeds and suet cakes also attract them6. Place these feeders in sunny spots for easy access.
Adding a birdbath to your yard is also smart6. Blue jays use birdbaths to drink and bathe. Put it in a spot where they can easily see it. Keep the water clean to keep them interested.
Planting oak or beech trees is another good idea6. These trees provide acorns and beechnuts, which blue jays love. With these steps, your backyard can become a haven for these lovely birds.
Shelter and Nesting Needs
Blue jays need mature trees for shelter7. They like both deciduous and coniferous trees. Evergreen trees are key in fall and winter when leaves are gone.
To attract blue jays, don’t prune trees too much7. This keeps the shelter dense and safe. In breeding season, they build nests in these trees. They use twigs, grass, and more for the nest7.
Birdhouses for blue jays should be 8×8 inches on the floor7. They need an open ceiling, eight inches from the base7. The best spot is 10-12 feet up, with a minimum of eight feet7.
Blue jays are active in fall and winter looking for nests7. This is the best time to put up birdhouses for them7.
These birds are monogamous, staying together until one dies7. Males often return to their birthplace, showing strong habitat preference7. They mate and raise families from March to July. Both parents care for their young7.
Attracting Other Jay Species
The blue jay is well-known in North America. But, other jay birds have similar needs. Using the same methods to attract blue jays can also draw in other species like Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay and Steller’s Jay8.
Offering the right food, water, and shelter can attract many jay species to your yard. This makes your backyard a welcoming place for different birds.
Jay birds are like blue jays in many ways. They eat a variety of foods and live in different places8. You can find them in forests, gardens, and even in cities across North America8.
By providing the right food, water, and places to nest, you can attract many jay species to your yard. This makes your outdoor space a lively place for birds.
Like blue jays, these other jay species are loud and can be aggressive. They defend their nests and food9. Using squirrel-proof feeders and weight-activated perches can help manage their numbers9.
By learning about the needs of various jay species, you can make your yard a welcoming place. This attracts many fascinating birds to your outdoor space1089.
Blue Jay Calls and Sounds
Blue jays are known for their loud “jaaay, jaaay, jaaay” scream11. They also make many other sounds like whistles and a harsh “shkrrr” sound11. They can even sound like hawks, like the Red-shouldered Hawk, to scare away other birds11.
Blue jays make all sorts of sounds, from clicks to whines11. They get loud and aggressive when they’re scared or when their babies are taken11.
“Blue jays are known for their harsh scream, but their diverse repertoire of sounds is truly impressive.”
Blue jays are about 11-12 inches long12. They love places with lots of food like nuts and fruits12. You can attract them with food, nesting sites, and water12.
Blue jays are great flyers, moving through trees with ease12. Their many sounds, including hawk imitations, make them interesting to watch11.
Migration Patterns and Range
The blue jay is the only migratory jay in North America. But, they are mostly seen all year in many places13. Some blue jays migrate, while others stay put14. Scientists have been trying to figure out why for a long time13.
When blue jays do migrate, they fly in big groups. These groups can have hundreds of birds1314. They started showing up in the West in the 1960s14. Now, they live there all year, even in places like Washington and British Columbia14.
Even though they migrate, blue jays are very territorial. They take their time to spread out because young birds need their own space.14 Blue jays don’t travel as far as some songbirds. But, they may go south in Canada during winter1314.
To get blue jays to visit your yard, put up feeders with peanuts, fruit, sunflower seeds, and mealworms14. Also, having trees like American beech or native oaks can help them nest and find food14. Blue jays don’t seem to hurt other birds in the West, like Steller’s jays14.
“Blue jays are commonly seen in Boulder, Colorado, during the breeding season from March to August.”14
Understanding Blue Jay Behavior
Blue jays are very interesting birds. They are bold and loud. They belong to the corvid family and show many cool behaviors15.
The way a blue jay holds its crest tells us how it’s feeling. If it’s up, it might be angry or alert. But if it’s down, it’s probably calm15. These birds will fight to protect their space. But they are also smart and fun to watch15.
“Blue jays are some of the brassiest birds, and some people find them too bold and loud or even obnoxious. But they are also very intelligent, as they are part of the corvid family.”
Blue jays can be a bit aggressive sometimes. But they are also very smart. They use tools, remember where they hid food, and even make sounds like other birds and predators15. Their boldness and smarts make them interesting to watch15.
Watching blue jays in our backyards can make us appreciate them more. They show off their strength or quietly look for food. Blue jays give us a peek into their lives15. By understanding their behavior, we can live in peace with them. This way, we learn more about the birds around us15.
Conclusion
It’s easy to attract blue jays to your garden. Just give them their favorite foods like peanuts and sunflower seeds16. Also, make sure they have water and a safe place to hide16.
With these steps, you can see blue jays in your yard all year. They are smart and colorful birds.
Blue jays live in many places, like the U.S. and Canada16. They like big feeders and lots of trees for hiding16. They also love fruit trees for food16.
By using the tips from this article, you can attract blue jays. Give them the right food and a cozy place to live. This will make your birdwatching even better17.
With a little patience, you’ll see blue jays in your garden often. They are amazing birds to watch.