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The blue jay is a very recognizable bird with its bright blue plumage, white undersides, and black necklace across its throat. However, there are some other birds that can be mistaken for a blue jay at first glance due to their similar color patterns. Determining the specific species requires a closer look at size, range, behavior, and other identifying characteristics.
Birds Commonly Confused with Blue Jays
Some birds that often get confused with blue jays include:
Steller’s Jay
The Steller’s jay looks almost identical to the blue jay with its blue and black feathers. However, the Steller’s jay has a more pronounced crest on its head and has darker blue plumage on its back and head. It lacks the white underside of the blue jay and instead has lighter blue streaks on its underside.
Steller’s jays are found along the Pacific coast, in the western United States and Canada. Blue jays have a more eastern range and are not found on the west coast.
Western Scrub-Jay
Western scrub-jays have blue upperparts like blue jays, but their color only extends halfway down the back. The lower back and undersides are gray-brown. The throat is also pale without the signature black necklace.
Western scrub jays live in the western United States and do not overlap in range with blue jays. They prefer more open scrubby and arid habitats compared to the woodlands blue jays occupy.
Pinyon Jay
Pinyon jays share the same blue coloration on the wings, tail, and head as blue jays. The main difference is that pinyon jays lack any white or black markings and have a more muted blue overall. Their undersides are a dull grayish-blue rather than white.
These jays live exclusively in the western United States in pine forests. They form large flocks while blue jays are usually solitary or in small groups.
Florida Scrub-Jay
The Florida scrub-jay looks virtually identical to the blue jay except its blue plumage extends all the way down its back. It lacks the black necklace and white underside of the blue jay.
As its name suggests, this species only resides in Florida and is the only bird entirely restricted to Florida. It prefers open scrub habitats.
Green Jay
While the green jay sports blue feathers on its wings, tail, and forehead, it has an overall greenish cast to its body plumage. It has a darker head and lacks white markings. Its range extends through Mexico and Central America.
Brown Jay
The brown jay or Mexican jay is larger than a blue jay and lacks its blue coloration. As its name says, it is overall brown with a pale brown underside, darker brown back, and darker brown head.
It occupies mountain pine forests in Mexico and Central America. It has a loud, screeching call unlike the louder, rasping calls of blue jays.
Differences Between Blue Jays and Lookalikes
While the birds covered may appear similar to blue jays at first glance, there are some key differences to set them apart:
Size
Blue jays measure 9-12 inches in length with a wingspan around 13-17 inches. Steller’s jays are similar in size, while western and Florida scrub-jays are a bit smaller. Pinyon jays and green jays are also comparable. Brown jays are noticeably larger than blue jays.
Range
Blue jays live throughout eastern North America. Birds limited to western North America like Steller’s, western scrub, and pinyon jays can be ruled out as blue jays. The Florida scrub jay only resides in Florida.
Color Patterns
The crisp blue, white, and black pattern of blue jays is distinctive. Lookalikes may have similar blue shading but lack the same sharply defined white underside and black necklace. The nape may also differ in color compared to a blue jay.
Habitat
Blue jays inhabit various wooded areas especially near oak trees. Western jays in more open, arid habitats are unlikely to be blue jays. The Florida scrub jay prefers scrubby flatwoods and scrub oak habitats.
Behavior
Blue jays are intelligent, social, and sometimes aggressive birds that may raid nests or form temporary flocks. Western jays behave differently, with pinyon jays creating enormous flocks and scrub jays being more cooperative breeders.
Calls
The loud, rasping screams of blue jays are distinctive from the screeches of brown jays or chickadee-like calls of scrub jays. However, Steller’s jays sound very similar with their array of harsh and gurgling calls.
How to Positively Identify a Blue Jay
The following characteristics are definitive ways to identify a blue jay in the field:
– Blue crest and blue wings with black and white barring
– Bright blue back and tail contrasting sharply with clean white underside
– Black necklace across throat and white face
– Pink-brown bill, legs, eyes
– Large size around 9-12 inches from head to tail
– Coast to coast range in eastern North America year-round
– Lives in woodlands, especially near oaks, with a preference for deciduous and mixed forests
– Loud, rasping calls like pumps on a swing set
– Intelligent, sometimes aggressive behavior such as nest raiding
– Usually solitary or in small groups, may form temporary flocks
Observing where the bird is located, its precise color pattern, and its behavior will help correctly distinguish a blue jay from similar species. Pay attention to small differences in plumage and whether the characteristic white and black markings are present. The blue jay’s specific habitat preferences, range, and loud calls also aid identification.
Conclusion
While the blue jay has several lookalike species, careful attention to detail allows an observer to tell them apart. Factors like range, habitat preferences, behavior, and vocalizations are all useful clues. If a bird spotted has the right combination of crisp blue, black and white plumage, loud calls, aggressive habits, and is found in the eastern United States or Canada, it will invariably prove to be a blue jay. Familiarity with less common species in the same areas that share some visual similarities allows birdwatchers to hone their identification skills and appreciate the diversity of North America’s amazing avifauna.