The Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
is a very attractive crested jay with black barring 
and white patches on its bright blue wings and
tail, black "necklace" on whitish underparts. It is
about 11 to 12-1/2 inches long. The Blue Jay is common in suburbs,
city parks, farmlands and woodlands. It is very noisy and bold,
like most Jays and often migrates in huge flocks. It is a permanent
resident throughout its range.
Females lay 3 to 6 eggs that are light
greenish to olive and spotted with brown. The incubation period
is from 16 to 18 days. The nest is built in the fork of a tree;
5 to 50 feet up. It prefers oak forests, but also inhabits suburbs,
farms and towns. The nest is built of twigs and rootlets and
lined with grass and feathers.
Blue jays will eat fruits, seeds, nuts,
insects, birds' eggs, small birds, mice, treefrogs and snails.
Breeding range is expanding to northwest; but is generally found
east of the Rockies from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
The little plush Blue
Jay can be found at this link.
