Blue Jay
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Taxonomy
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Aves
Family - Corvidae
Order - Passeriformes
Genus - Cyanocitta
Species - C. Cristata
Kingdom - Animalia
Evolution of Blue Jays.
Blue Jays have 4 subspecies, all of which that come from different places.
Cyanocitta cristata cristata - (The original Blue Jay).
Cyanocitta cristata bromia - (This Jay is found in Canada and all throughout the Central part of the U.S; it's also a bit chubbier than all of it's fellow Blue jays).
Cyanocitta cristata cyanotephra - (Blue Plumaged, larger sized songbirds that have expanded all throughout Northern America).
Cyanocitta cristata semplei - (Southeastern Blue Jay, that's found in S.E states including Florida) ( this jay has more grey and light blue compared to other blue jays from the northern region which is more of a brighter blue)
3 Ancestors of the Blue Jay;
Doesn't have any!
Description: (Physical description)
Typically has dark blue feathers with a mix of lighter blue and white/grey on their chests and throat
Usually are about 9-12 inches long in length with a weight of about 2.3 - 3.8oz
Black small eyes and Black skinny legs and feet
Small and pointy beak; great for picking up insects and eating food.
Life ..........
.....Span
*A Blue Jays lifespan can typically live from 7-17 years old.*
most Blue Jays live to e able 7 and 10 at the most!!
Blue Jays have been around for about 25 million years. There have been Corivae fossils of these birds from the first time they ever flew or walked on this earth. Blue Jays closest relative is the Florida-Scrub jay.
Florida -Scrub Jay is also blue but it's fur is much thinner and the bird alone is much smaller compared to a Blue Jay.
Differences between Males and Females;
Male blue Jays are always bigger than female Blue Jays.
Male & Female Jays have the same plumage which can make it difficult for you to tell them apart but it's quite easy to differentiate them by their behavior.
Description of their habitat;
Blue Jays typically live in all types of forests but they prefer to be around woody dry areas instead of wet.
They live in warmer areas because they don',t have a lot of feathers or fur and to keep them warm from colder weather.
Distribution;
They live in 2 different continents
(North and Southern America)
*The diet of a blue Jay*
Blue Jays are mainly Omnivorous
Their diet consists of vegetables, fruits, berries and nuts
They also enjoy seeds, grains and acorns as well.
*Blue jays also enjoy smaller vertebrae animals and insects, and they eat these throughout the day*
They can eat up to about 30% of their body weight in just insects, vegetables and seeds.
*Blue jays like to gather up their food and hide it in a safe spot to come back to*
-Jays also bury their food 2 1/2 miles away from their home or their safe space.
Social Structure....
*Blue jays fly in packs and often disperse and find each other after finding food*
They definitely flock together in a community but there are some that like to be on their own and prefer to be independent
Females typically lead the groups especially when it comes to finding food and taking care of the younger jays...
Reproduction ...
Jays usually mate during the summertime and lay eggs right away
Blue Jays don't really have mating rituals; they just pick a mate and go, especially males. Females tend to be attracted to male jays that can provide and also take initiative for things.
*Development*
Blue jays reach maturity by 1 year and then they meet their mate (typically).
Sexual maturity is reached by 1 year.
The difference between male & females is their behavior and weight. Males typically weigh 2x more than females and are much more larger.
^ Females tend to be more mature than males and you can just differentiate that by the way they behave compared to a male jay.
Causes of death....
The causes of death for Blue jays; consists of the west Nile virus, salmonellosis, and other diseases.
*Competition*
Blue jays definitely are competitive and like to show off in front of other birds. They aren't in competition with any species in particular but they are definitely competitive.
There's no ICUN rating for Blue Jays.
The current population size for Blue Jays however, is 22 million.
Blue Jays have been interacting with humans for ever decades and have made a huge impact on the world.
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