Home/Species/ Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Blue Jay

G5Secure Found in 75 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

Least concernIUCN

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101039

Element CodeABPAV02020

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVertebrate Animal

IUCNLeast concern

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumCraniata

ClassAves

OrderPasseriformes

FamilyCorvidae

GenusCyanocitta

Other Common Names

blue jay (EN) Geai bleu (FR)

Concept Reference

American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.

Taxonomic Comments

Hybridizes infrequently with C. stelleri in eastern Colorado and may constitute a superspecies with it (AOU 1998).

Conservation Status

Rank MethodExpertise without calculation

Review Date2016-04-07

Change Date1996-12-02

Range Extent Comments

Mainly resident from east-central British Columbia to central Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, south to Texas, Gulf Coast, and southern Florida, west to longitude of Colorado; northern populations partially migratory. Irregular or casual to western U.S.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Primarily deciduous or mixed forest, open woodland, parks, residential areas with trees; less frequently in open situations with scattered trees. Nests commonly in crotch or on branch of tree, bush or vine, often 3-8 m above ground; both sexes build nest; sometimes reuses nest.

Ecology

Disperses heavy fruits (e.g., acorns) of forest trees; may influence/enhance reforestation.

Reproduction

Clutch size is 3-6 (usually 4-5). Incubation, mostly or only by female, lasts 16-18 days. Young are tended by both parents, leave nest at 17-21 days. Sometimes produces 2-3 broods annually in south.

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedSuburban/orchard

Palustrine Habitats

FORESTED WETLANDRiparian

Other Nations (2)

United StatesN5B,N5N

Province	Rank	Native
Virginia	S5	Yes
Alabama	S5	Yes
Illinois	S5	Yes
Connecticut	S5	Yes
Montana	S5	Yes
Massachusetts	S5	Yes
Nebraska	S5	Yes
Tennessee	S5	Yes
New York	S5	Yes
Florida	S4	Yes
Delaware	S5	Yes
Georgia	S5	Yes
District of Columbia	S4N,S5B	Yes
Michigan	S5	Yes
Wisconsin	S5B	Yes
Kansas	S5	Yes
Wyoming	S5B	Yes
Texas	S5B	Yes
Mississippi	S5B	Yes
Pennsylvania	S5B	Yes
New Mexico	S4B,S4N	Yes
North Carolina	S5B,S5N	Yes
Louisiana	S5	Yes
Kentucky	S5B,S5N	Yes
Oklahoma	SNR	Yes
Idaho	S1N	Yes
Rhode Island	S5B	Yes
Indiana	S5	Yes
Arkansas	S5	Yes
Utah	SNA	Yes
Maryland	S5B,S5N	Yes
South Carolina	S5	Yes
South Dakota	S5	Yes
Iowa	S5B	Yes
Vermont	S5	Yes
Missouri	S5	Yes
West Virginia	S5B,S5N	Yes
North Dakota	SNRB,SNRN	Yes
Ohio	S5	Yes
New Jersey	S5B,S5N	Yes
Colorado	S5	Yes
Minnesota	SNR	Yes
Maine	S5	Yes
Washington	SNA	Yes
New Hampshire	S5	Yes

CanadaN5

Province	Rank	Native
Ontario	S5	Yes
Alberta	S5	Yes
Quebec	S5	Yes
British Columbia	S4	Yes
Nova Scotia	S5	Yes
Saskatchewan	S5	Yes
Manitoba	S5	Yes
Island of Newfoundland	S5	Yes
New Brunswick	S5	Yes
Prince Edward Island	S5	Yes

Roadless Areas (75)

Arkansas (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
East Fork	Ozark-St. Francis National Forest	13,037
Little Blakely	Ouachita National Forest	3,342

Georgia (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Kelly Ridge	Chattahoochee National Forest	8,325

Idaho (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bear Creek	Caribou-Targhee National Forest	118,582
Borah Peak	Salmon-Challis National Forest	130,463
Needles	Payette National Forest	131,279

Michigan (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Fibre	Hiawatha National Forest	7,432

Minnesota (5)

Area	Forest	Acres
Baker - Homer - Brule Lakes	Superior National Forest	6,712
Kawishiwi Lake To Sawbill	Superior National Forest	15,305
Phantom Lake	Superior National Forest	6,521
Tait Lake	Superior National Forest	6,327
Wood Lake	Superior National Forest	596

Montana (5)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bmss Ra 1485	Flathead National Forest	334,275
Cabinet Face East #671	Kootenai National Forest	50,326
Cube Iron - Silcox	Lolo National Forest	36,998
East Pioneer	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	145,082
Lionhead	Gallatin National Forest	33,549

New Hampshire (8)

Area	Forest	Acres
Carr Mountain	White Mountain National Forest	17,110
Great Gulf Ext.	White Mountain National Forest	15,110
Jobildunk	White Mountain National Forest	3,660
Kinsman Mountain	White Mountain National Forest	8,999
Pemigewasset	White Mountain National Forest	32,255
Presidential - Dry River Ext	White Mountain National Forest	10,555
Sandwich Range	White Mountain National Forest	16,797
Wild River	White Mountain National Forest	46,878

New Mexico (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study Area	Carson National Forest	43,739
Ortega Peak	Lincoln National Forest	11,545

North Carolina (8)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bald Mountain	Pisgah National Forest	11,085
Balsam Cone	Pisgah National Forest	10,591
Bearwallow	Pisgah National Forest	4,113
Dobson Knob	Pisgah National Forest	6,111
Overflow Creek	Nantahala National Forest	3,379
Pond Pine B	Croatan National Forest	2,961
South Mills River	Pisgah National Forest	8,588
Tusquitee Bald	Nantahala National Forest	13,670

Oregon (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Hellhole	Umatilla National Forest	65,679
Hurricane Creek	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest	1,606

South Carolina (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Ellicott Rock 1	Sumter National Forest	301

South Dakota (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Indian Creek	Buffalo Gap National Grassland	24,666

Tennessee (5)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bald Mountain	Cherokee National Forest	11,743
Brushy Ridge	Cherokee National Forest	7,469
Flint Mill Gap	Cherokee National Forest	9,494
Sampson Mountain Addition	Cherokee National Forest	3,064
Stone Mountain	Cherokee National Forest	5,367

Texas (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Big Creek	National Forests in Texas	1,447
Little Lake Creek	National Forests in Texas	596

Utah (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
418027	Uinta National Forest	13,884

Vermont (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bread Loaf	Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests	1,768
Griffith Lake 09084	Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests	1,833

Virginia (14)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bear Creek	Jefferson National Forest	18,274
Beards Mountain	George Washington National Forest	7,505
Beartown Addition B	Jefferson National Forest	2,985
Brush Mountain	Jefferson National Forest	6,002
Brush Mountain East	Jefferson National Forest	4,916
Hunting Camp Little Wolf Creek	Jefferson National Forest	8,953
Mill Mountain	George Washington National Forest	10,840
Mountain Lake Addition A	Jefferson National Forest	1,469
Northern Massanutten	George Washington National Forest	9,444
Oak Knob	George Washington National Forest	10,882
Peters Mountain Addition B	Jefferson National Forest	2,909
Seng Mountain	Jefferson National Forest	6,428
Shawvers Run Addition	Jefferson National Forest	1,927
Southern Massanutten	George Washington National Forest	11,985

West Virginia (9)

Area	Forest	Acres
Canaan Loop	Monongahela National Forest	7,867
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area	Monongahela National Forest	785
Dolly Sods Roaring Plain	Monongahela National Forest	13,392
Dry Fork	Monongahela National Forest	657
Falls Of Hills Creek	Monongahela National Forest	6,925
Little Mountain	Monongahela National Forest	8,172
Middle Mountain	Monongahela National Forest	19,020
Mottesheard (WV)	Jefferson National Forest	3,964
North Mountain Hopeville	Monongahela National Forest	6,525

Wyoming (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Gros Ventre Mountains	Bridger-Teton National Forest	106,418
Middle Fork	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	13,238
Wilderness Study Area	Targhee National Forest	51,961

References (17)

American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Balda, R. P., and G. C. Bateman. 1971. Flocking and annual cycle of the piñon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus. Condor 73:287-302.
Carpenter, T. W., A. L. Carpenter, and S. R. Smith. 1990. Spring migration of blue jays at Whitefish Point, Michigan, as studied through banding. J. Field Ornithol. 61:419-425.
Droege, S., and J.R. Sauer. 1990. North American Breeding Bird Survey, annual summary, 1989. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 90(8). 22 pp.
Goodwin, D. 1986. Crows of the world. Second edition. Univ. Washington Press. 300 pp.
Graber, J. W., R. R. Graber, and E. L. Kirk. 1987. Illinois birds: Corvidae. Illinois Nat. Hist. Surv. Biol. Notes No. 126.
Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
Harrison, H. H. 1979. A field guide to western birds' nests. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 279 pp.
Horn, H. S. 1968. The adaptive significance of colonial nesting in the Brewer's Blackbird. Ecology 49:682-694.
Ligon, J. D. 1971. Late summer-autumnal breeding of the piñon jay in New Mexico. Condor 73:147-153.
Moore, W. S., and R. A. Dolbeer. 1989. The use of banding recovery data to estimate dispersal rates and gene flow in avian species: case studies in the Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle. Condor 91:242-253.
Tarvin, K. A., and G. E. Woolfenden. 1999. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata). No. 469 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
Williams, L. 1952b. Breeding behavior of the Brewer blackbird. Condor 54:3-47.
Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.