Blue Jay -- South Dakota Birds

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

A brash, sometimes noisy, commonly recognized bird often found in urban settings.  Blue Jays feed on a wide array of items, and will readily attend residential feeders for most commonly offered foods. 

Habitat: Breeds in deciduous to mixed forest, never pure conifer stands.  Can be found in a wide variety of woodland and forest settings, including unbroken forest, forest edges and clearings, residential areas and parks, and shelterbelts. 

Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on nuts, acorns, pine seeds, other seeds, waste grain, fruit and berries, insects, eggs and young birds, small rodents, small reptiles, small amphibians, carrion.

Nesting: May and June

Breeding Map: Breeding bird survey map

Song: Blue Jay Song, also Blue Jay Call.  Can make a very wide variety of vocalizations.

Migrations: Generally a permanent resident, with some occasionally moving south in the fall.

Feeders: Sunflower seeds, suet, nuts, 

Similar Species: Steller's Jay

Status: Probably increasing in range and numbers, although West Nile virus has taken a heavy toll in some areas in recent years.

Further Information: 1) Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Blue Jay

2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Blue Jay"

3) eNature.com: Blue Jay

Photo Information: November 15th, 2007 - Big Sioux Recreation Area near Brandon, South Dakota - Terry L. Sohl

Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Blue Jay photos.

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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl

This page was last edited on 02/03/08