Crows (Corvidae)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) - HBW 14, p. 568
French: Geai bleu
German:
Spanish: Chara Azul
Taxonomy: Corvus cristatus Linnaeus, 1758, in America septentrionali = south-eastern South Carolina, USA.
Genus closest to Gymnorhinus and Aphelocoma. Analyses of mitochondrial DNA suggest that this species and C. stelleri likely split from a common ancestor over 5 million years ago (cytochrome b gene divergence of 10.7%). Known to hybridize with C. stelleri, and also with Aphelocoma coerulescens and Cyanocorax yncas. Geographical variation rather weak and clinal, and semplei perhaps better subsumed in nominate; review desirable. Four subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- bromia Oberholser, 1921 - S Canada from E British Columbia E to Newfoundland, S in USA from North Dakota to NE Nebraska and C Missouri and, in E, to SC Illinois, C Indiana, NE Kentucky, NE Tennessee and SC Virginia.
- cyanotephra Sutton, 1935 - from SE Wyoming and Nebraska (except NE) S through E Colorado, W Kansas and Oklahoma to N Texas.
- cristata ( Linnaeus, 1758) - from S Missouri, S Illinois, SW Indiana, W Kentucky, Tennessee (except extreme NE), SW Virginia and North Carolina S to SE Texas, coastal Gulf of Mexico and C Florida.
- semplei Todd, 1928 - S half of Florida (S from Hillsborough and Osceola counties).
- Least Concern Enlarge map
-
A bird at a feeder Locality Atlanta, Georgia, USA (United States) (ssp cristata)
Alan Larson 31 March 2005 6 years ago 18 sec 4.5 -
An adult bird on a trunk, going away Locality Point Pelee National Park, Leamington, Ontario, Canada (ssp bromia)
Don DesJardin 30 April 2005 4 years ago 19 sec 4.2 -
A bird eating sunflower seeds at a feeder Locality Greenwich Audubon Centre, Connecticut, USA (United States) (ssp bromia)
Josep del Hoyo 1 May 2006 5 years ago 42 sec 4.1 -
Several birds feeding, one of them calling at the end Locality Mount Airy, Maryland, USA (United States) (ssp bromia)
Robert Schaefer 3 May 2001 4 years ago 20 sec 4.1 -
One bird and then two, feeding on the ground Locality Mount Airy, Maryland, USA (United States) (ssp bromia)
Robert Schaefer 3 May 2001 4 years ago 20 sec 4 -
A bird in a bush, raising the crest Locality Greenwich Audubon Centre, Connecticut, USA (United States) (ssp bromia)
Josep del Hoyo 1 May 2006 5 years ago 22 sec 4
-
Was just about to pick up a large broken branch.
Locality Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Ken Simonite 9 October 2011 16 weeks ago 4.5 -
Bird feeding on sunflower seeds on post top.
Locality Laurel Creek Conservation Area, Waterloo, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada
Miriam Bauman 12 December 2009 1 year ago 4.2 -
For the picture
Locality Montmagny, Quebec, Canada
Guy Poisson 24 June 2008 1 year ago 4 -
Blue Jay surveying its surroundings.
Locality Louisiana, USA (United States)
Triton2009 1 May 2009 2 years ago 4 -
Individual feeding on a post.
Locality Laurel Creek Conservation Area, Waterloo, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada
Miriam Bauman 12 December 2009 28 weeks ago 3.9 -
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Locality Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ed McAskill 8 August 2009 39 weeks ago 3.9
-
Typical calls. Locality Dallas Zoo, Dallas, Texas, USA (United States)
pcx 27 May 2011 30 weeks ago 3 -
Typical calls in a suburban garden Locality Decatur, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (United States)
Stuart Fisher 4 June 2009 2 years ago 3
Email this page