Blue jays typically live in small flocks, and are highly protective of their nesting site. A thin back eye stripe marks the face. Learn more about these highly intelligent birds and how you can recognize their intelligent behavior when you read the the complete species profile found in Birds in the Yard Month by Month: What's there and Why, and How to Attract Those That Aren't. The blue jay has black eyes and legs and a black bill. Male and female blue jays have identical plumages and can be absolutely identified only by their mating and nesting behaviors. A U-shaped collar of black feathers runs around the neck to the sides of the head. The bird has a white face with blue crest, back, wings, and tail. Though a rare visitor west of the Rocky Mountains, blue jays live throughout the Midwest and East. Blue jays are loyal to their mates and form lasting bonds until one of them dies. Chances are good you’ve seen this jay the most. The female lays 3 to 7 greenish buff, blue, or yellow eggs with brown or grey spots. Besides the biblical meaning of seeing a Blue Jay, it is said that when a blue jay makes its entry or stays in close proximity for an extended period, it is letting you know that you are doing an excellent job following your passion and dream. Male and female blue jays look alike with a white face, throat, and chin bordered by a prominent black necklace that extends from the nape to the breast. Male and female Blue Jays are very similar in appearance. The black band around the head and throat will vary slightly by individual. Male and female blue jays have similar coloration. Wing and tail feathers are barred with black, light blue, and white. When flying alone, blue jays are subject to predation by hawks, eagles, and other raptors, however when in groups they will 'mob' much larger birds in order to fight them off. Many people have pointed out that the male jays I report about seem to have more blue under their chin than do the females. She may leave from time to time to bathe and stretch. Blue Jay. Courtship is said to begin in early May each year. Blue jays molt their feathers once a year, usually in July and August, and often appear rather ratty and drab just prior to molting. This common, large songbird is familiar to many people, with its perky crest; Courtesy Lorraine Lynch Male and female blue jays are very difficult to tell apart, because they have identical markings. The Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata is a little larger than an American Robin, about 30 cm in length from the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail. Male and female blue jays are nearly identical. The bird is hard to miss thanks to its bright blue markings and a loud jayyy jayyy call. Incubation last 17 to 18 days and is done primarily by the female although the male may provide some help. Male and female Blue Jays look identical. When the female flies away, she will be followed by the males until she lands in another location. The head, crest, and back are bluish purple, while the wings and tail are a bright blue … A group of seven or more blue jays including one female would gather on top of a tree. A white-faced bird with a blue crest, back, wings, and tail, it is strongly marked with black and white. The male will feed the female during incubation. The vocalizations made by blue jays are as distinctive and as definitive as their plumage. The Blue Jay Mating Habits.