Top 8 Fun Facts About Blue Jays

September 11, 2025

Blue jays are bright, cool birds you'll often see hanging around backyards in North America. They're blue, smart alecks, and noisy! But they're more than just pretty birds. In this guide, we will check out some cool facts about blue jays such as wha

t they do, what they eat, where they go in the winter and how to get them to visit you.

Fact 1 - Blue Jays Are Surprisingly Smart Birds

Blue jays are up there with the brainiest birds on the continent. Research says they’re good at solving puzzles, using tools, and copying other birds' sounds. Being this smart really helps them dodge predators and locate food without wasting time.

Memory Skills: These birds are great at remembering where they hid acorns and nuts, which gets them through the winter.

Social Behavior: They usually hang out with their families, talking with calls and body language.

Fact 2 - Blue Jays Feathers Aren’t Actually Blue

So, people think blue jays are blue all the way through. But here's a thing – their feathers don't really have blue color. The blue you see is because of how light bounces off tiny parts of the feather. It's like a trick of the light!

If you spot a blue jay feather, try shining light through it. It will probably look brown.

Fact 3 - Blue Jays Have A Varied Diet

Blue jays are omnivores, so they eat both plants and meat. Here's what they like:

Nuts and seeds (especially acorns and sunflower seeds)
Fruits and berries
Insects and tiny critters
Sometimes, eggs from other birds’ nests

If you put a variety of foods in your backyard bird feeder, you might get some to visit. With a WoBirdy smart bird feeder, the seeds stay safe from pests like squirrels.

Fact 4 - Blue Jays Like to Rub Ants on Their Feathers

lue jays sometimes rub ants on their feathers in a behavior called anting. This behavior may seem strange at first, but there are reasons for it:

Bug Control: The acid from the ants works like a natural bug spray. It helps the bird get rid of mites, lice, and other little bugs hanging out in its feathers.

Feather Care: Anting keeps feathers clean and in good shape, which is super important for flying well and staying warm.

Fact 4 - Blue Jays Are Noisier in the Fall

Think blue jays are louder in the fall? You're right! In autumn, they tend to group up and chat a lot as they move around or get ready for winter. Their calls help them stay together, warn each other about danger, and can even show who's boss when it comes to food. Plus, the new baby birds join in, making your backyard or the woods sound extra noisy with blue jay talk this time of year.

Fact 5 - Blue Jays Are Monogamous

Blue jays tend to enter lifelong relationships with their mates and rarely switch partners once paired. During the peak nesting season, the male feeds the female while she incubates the eggs in their stick nest. After hatching, both parents take their children in their arms to feed and protect them. This strong family alliance contributes considerably to the accelerated survival of their young and stands as an enduring testimony to the human-spirited loyalty and cooperation of blue jays. Observing these two partners together at the feeder or nesting is as entertaining as it is heartwarming for every backyard birder.

Fact 6 - Blue Jays Can Mimic the Calls of a Hawk

One of the most surprising talents of the blue jay is imitating the calls of the hawks, chiefly those of the red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks. The scientists argue that there are two possible reasons for this behavior: first, to warn other jays of the presence of a hawk; second, to frighten smaller birds away from a bird feeder, so the jays can eat from it themselves. Such an ingenious conduct truly proves how very intelligent and adaptable blue jays are.

Fact 7 - Males and Females Look Alike

In the great majority of bird species, males exhibit dazzling colors to seduce females. Not so in blue jays, and in fact, male and female blue jays look so alike that it carries the meaning of "virtually identical." In fact, both have the beautiful blue colored feathers on their head, wings, and tail,marking it with black necklace markings and white underparts. It is really difficult or rather impossible to tell any differentiation by sight. The other is by observance of behavior, such as the male feeding the female in the device of courtship or nesting.

Fact 8 - Blue Jays Actually Live Long

Blue jays can live a surprisingly long time. A lot of them make it to about 7 years in the wild, which is already old for small songbirds. But get this – some blue jays that people have kept track of have lived 15–17 years in the wild! They can even live longer if they're in cages because they don't have to worry about predators and always have food. I think their long lives are because they're smart and can adapt. Plus, they stick together as families. They live longer since they work together to raise their young, remember where the food is, and warn each other about danger.