Birds of the Island

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Blue Jay

About the Blue Jay

The Blue Jay was officially named the provincial bird during the 1977 session of the PEI Legislative Assembly. It was chosen after a province-wide public vote held during environment week in 1976.

It is easily identified by its prominent sky-blue hood, wings and tail feathers. Its throat and breast are white, and horizontal black arcs accent the wing tips and long tail.


Common to the Island all year long, during the spring and summer, the Blue Jay secludes itself in woodland areas where it nestles, feeds and raises its young. In the autumn, it prepares for winter by gathering food - grains, seeds and suet. Winter is the ideal time for sighting the Blue Jay, its shrill cries cutting the silence of the crisp winter air.


Photographs

These photographs are provided to help you identify members of the Blue Jay species and are provided here courtesy of the individual photographers, who retain copyright. You may not reproduce these photos without permission. Click on any photo for a the full-sized version.

94368 bytes 72 dpi - JPEG image 640 x 480 (C) Rosemary Curley All Rights Reserved.	61840 bytes 72 dpi - JPEG image 640 x 480 (C) Rosemary Curley All Rights Reserved.	88135 bytes 72 dpi - JPEG image 640 x 480 (C) Rosemary Curley All Rights Reserved.	292305 bytes 72 dpi - JPEG image 640 x 480 Dwaine Oakley Location: Stratford Date: 10-24-03
251543 bytes 72 dpi - JPEG image 640 x 480 Dwaine Oakley Location: Stratford Date: 11-02-03	268318 bytes 72 dpi - JPEG image 640 x 480 Dwaine Oakley Location: Stratford Date: 11-05-03	241827 bytes 72 dpi - JPEG image 640 x 480 Dwaine Oakley Location: Stratford

More about the Blue Jay on the Internet

The following websites can help you learn more about the Blue Jay species. These websites are maintained by other organizations, and when you click on the links below, you'll be visiting their websites, not ours.

• Canadian Wildlife Service
• Raven's Aviary
• Raven's Aviary
• Tony Phillips' Homepage
• Rickerts Nature Preserve
• Birds Of Nova Scotia

Seasonal Frequency

You can use the following as a guide to when you can most easily expect to spot members of the Blue Jay species on Prince Edward Island. This information comes from The Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island which retains and publishes records of bird sightings.

Spring March 16 to May 31 (northerly migration)	Common, 10 - 49 birds per day
Summer June 1 to August 15 (nesting season)	Common, 10 - 49 birds per day
Autumn August 16 to December 14 (southerly migration)	Very common, 50 or more birds per day
Winter December 15 to March 15	Very common, 50 or more birds per day

Nesting on PEI

The Blue Jay is known or believed to nest on PEI.