Blue Jay
by Sandra Clark
Title
Blue Jay
Artist
Sandra Clark
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
This common, large songbird is familiar to many people, with its perky crest; blue, white, and black plumage; and noisy calls. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight family bonds
Thousands of Blue Jays migrate in flocks along the Great Lakes and Atlantic coasts, but much about their migration remains a mystery. Some are present throughout winter in all parts of their range. Young jays may be more likely to migrate than adults, but many adults also migrate. Some individual jays migrate south one year, stay north the next winter, and then migrate south again the next year. No one has worked out why they migrate when they do.
The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk. These calls may provide information to other jays that a hawk is around, or may be used to deceive other species into believing a hawk is present.
Blue Jays lower their crests when they are feeding peacefully with family and flock members or tending to nestlings.
The pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The blue color is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs.
The black bridle across the face, nape, and throat varies extensively and may help Blue Jays recognize one another
Info from http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/blue_jay/lifehistory
Uploaded
January 29th, 2014
Statistics
Viewed 763 Times - Last Visitor from Beverly Hills, CA on 04/23/2024 at 4:09 AM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
