Blue jays are an iconic part of North American nature, and the sight of a beautiful blue jay with a long tail is sure to draw admiration from birdwatchers and nature lovers.
This article will explore the world of Blue Jays with long tails. From habitat to diet and behaviors, you’ll find out all the facts you need about these majestic Blue Jays.
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Coastal Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata cristata)
The Coastal Blue Jay is a stunning songbird known for its vibrant plumage and long tail feathers.
You can spot these birds across eastern regions of North America along the coastal areas, particularly in Florida, Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina.
This Jay is recognized for its combination of blue, white, and black feathers. Its body is vivid blue, with white patches on the underparts and black markings on the face, crest, and wings.
The Coastal Blue Jay measures around 9.8 to 11.8 inches long, with its long tail making up about half its total length and a wingspan of approximately 13.4 to 17 inches.
While it’s slightly smaller than other blue jay species, its long tail gives it a graceful appearance.
This Blue Jay prefers to dwell in coastal forests, marshes, and wetlands. You can also spot it venturing into suburban areas and gardens.
Generally, this species is adaptable and can thrive in various habitats as long as sufficient trees for nesting and a readily available food source.
The Coastal Blue Jay is omnivorous, consuming a wide range of foods, primarily from insects, spiders, small vertebrates, nuts, seeds, and fruits.
Interesting Facts
- This Blue Jay has impressive calls, including harsh screeches, squeaks, and melodious whistles used to communicate, courtship display, and warn of potential threats.
- The female Coastal Blue Jay lays around 2 to 7 eggs, and both parents are responsible for incubating and feeding the young.
- The Coastal Blue Jay is a notorious thief of other birds’ eggs and nestlings, particularly from other jay species, as part of its food source.
- They’re highly territorial and defend their nesting and foraging areas vigorously. They attack and chase away other birds that encroach on their territory.
Nothern Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata bromia)
Northern Blue Jays are a relatively common sight throughout North America and are known for their intelligence, social behavior, and raucous calls.
These birds have beautiful plumage of blue, white, and black feathers.
They’re one of the larger blue jays, measuring about 10 to 12 inches long and weighing between 2 to 3 ounces with a wingspan of 13 to 17 inches.
You can see these Blue Jays in various habitats, including forests, woodlands, and urban areas.
Their diet consists of nuts, fruits, seeds, and insects, but they also scavenge for carrion and hunt small rodents.
Interesting Facts
- The Northern Blue Jay is known for its ability to mimic the calls of other bird species like hawks, often fooling even experienced birdwatchers.
- These birds are territorial and will vigorously defend their territories by aggressively chasing away other birds or animals that come too close.
- They cache food for later consumption, storing nuts and seeds in hidden locations to sustain them during times of scarcity.
Interior Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata cyanotephra)
The Interior Blue Jay is commonly found in the Western regions of North America. You can spot these jays in the dry, open woodlands, sagebrush, and suburban areas.
These birds have long tails as striking as their bright blue feathers and white underparts.
They’re one of the smallest Blue Jays, measuring about 9 to 11 inches long with a wingspan of around 15 and weighing around 2.3 ounces.
Their diet consists of insects, seeds, nuts, and fruits. They have a powerful beak for crushing and cracking seeds and nuts.
Interesting Facts
- Despite their small size, Interior Blue Jays are unafraid to defend their territories and can be pretty aggressive to intruders.
- These birds are skilled foragers and can store food in caches for later use, showing their resourcefulness and planning abilities.
- They steal food from other bird species, showcasing their opportunistic nature.
- They’re also monogamous and mate for life, with both parents helping to raise their young.
Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)
The Florida Scrab Jay, also known as Southeastern Blue Jay, is typically found in the scrublands of Florida.
These birds have unique plumage with a blue head, wings, and back, a white underside, and a long tail measuring around 6 inches.
In terms of size, these Florida Scrub-Jays are similar to other subspecies, measuring around 9 to 12 inches in length, including their long tail. Their wingspan can reach up to 17 inches.
They typically inhabit the sandy scrublands to utilize the scattered oaks, palmettos, and pines for nesting and foraging.
They feed on insects, seeds, fruits, and nuts and often store food in their caches during winter to ensure a steady food supply during lean times.
Interesting Facts
- The Florida Scrub-Jay is a year-round resident of Florida and does not migrate like most Blue Jays. They’re well-adapted to the hot and dry climate of the region.
- These jaybirds are sometimes called “scrub jays” because they prefer scrublands.
- They’re social birds and live in family groups consisting of a mated pair and their offspring.
- They use their mimicry skills as defense mechanisms and trick potential predators into thinking they’re massive and more dangerous birds.
Yucatan Jay (Cyanocitta yucatanicus)
The Yucatan Jay is native to Peninsula, particularly the eastern and central parts of Belize and southern parts of Guatemala.
Its vibrant blue plumage, black head and underparts, and yellow legs make it a striking sight in any backyard or forest.
This Blue Jay is around 10 to 12 inches long with a wingspan of about 17 inches. Its extended tail feathers make up a significant portion of its overall length.
These jays reside in deciduous and mixed woodlands, parks, and suburban areas. They’re adaptable birds and can often be spotted near human habitation.
Interesting Facts
- They are intelligent and curious, often investigating their surroundings before perching or landing to feed.
- The Yucatan Jays typically mob up and chase away predators, such as hawks and owls.
- They disperse oak trees by storing acorns in the ground or tree crevices for later consumption. They often forget the acorns, which later germinate into oak trees.
