The Blue Jay is closely related to the Crow. He shows this relationship
in a number of ways. He is very intelligent, has a keen sense of humor
and is an observer of birds and men. All the year long he makes himself
known to us by his striking plumage, loud voice, and active body. During
the nesting season, however, he is comparatively quiet and we see little
of him.
Food: During eight or nine months of the year the Blue Jay earns an
honest living. He eats many harmful insects, frogs, snails, and
even small fish and mice. In the breeding season, however, the Jay
sometimes turns robber and has been known to steal the young of
other birds. Nevertheless the Jay is a likable creature, and
probably before human beings came to disturb him he was not quite
so much of a nuisance to other birds as he is now.
Song: The clearly whistled note of this bird proclaims the name
_Jay!--Jay!--Jay!_ in loud, harsh, ringing notes. Sometimes the
song is quite pleasing with a bell-like quality. Some think that
when the Jay calls he says _Thief! Thief! Thief!_
Nest: The Blue Jay often constructs his nest in a convenient crotch of a
tree. It is built of twigs quite strongly interwoven. The lining
is of leaflets. The inside of the nest is not by any means soft.
The pale olive brown or green eggs sprinkled with brownish are
from four to six in number.
Remarks: It is in the winter time that we really know the Jay in motion.
When the snow is on the ground and the woods and fields are quiet
it seems a fine thing to see dashing through the branches, calling
again and again, a bright bluish bird who gives an entirely
different atmosphere to the outdoors. Being something of a mimic,
he sometimes takes delight in imitating the songs of such birds as
the Red-shouldered Hawk and other songs that have a similar ring.
He has been called a reprobate, but, despite his bad habits, who
is there that does not appreciate his vivacity and ever-active
personality?
[Illustration: _The Bluejay--11½ inches_]