Our planet is inhabited by a huge number of birds with beautiful plumage and unusual habits. Today we will introduce you to a vociferous, noisy, but very cautious bird with blue wings. The name of this feathered imitator is well known to ornithologists and bird lovers.
It's a jay. Her bright attire is in no way inferior in beauty to the plumage of many exotic birds, and this forest mockingbird has no equal in her skill to imitate various sounds.
Description and features
You have already familiarized yourself with the photo and the name of the bird with blue wings. She looks like a cuckoo. People who are poorly versed in birds often confuse them, although they differ significantly in size. Her body is 15 cm long. Therefore, she is much larger than a cuckoo. And if we take into account the length of the impressive tail, then the size of the bird doubles.
The average weight of this blue-winged bird is about 175 grams, which can be compared to the mass of two cuckoos. You can find outjay on the feathers of the white uppertail, which turn into a black tail. The plumage of these birds is loose and fluffy. The outfit of this bird is distinguished by its original color scheme. Ornithologists believe that the name originates from the Old Russian verb "soy", meaning "shine". Interestingly, the "radiance" of these birds - the refraction of rays of light in the grooves of the fan and the violet-blue tint of feathers - is not a consequence of the presence of a special pigment in the plumage.
Some of the many varieties of jays can be yellow and white. There are also inconspicuous gray birds with blue wings. On a rather large head there is a pointed short beak, and the upper mandible is much larger than the lower one. Long legs, tenacious fingers end with small claws. Dimorphism (external sexual differences) of these birds is weakly expressed and consists only in the larger size of the male.
Young individuals also have a dark brown iris, while adults have light blue eyes. Perhaps the change in the iris is a signal to partners that they are ready to mate. Outstanding vocal data distinguish these birds. They are famous for the complexity and diversity of their "repertoire". Most often, their voice sounds like a screech and crackle. Occasionally, it resembles a nasal scream.
Types of jays
These blue-winged birds belong to the corvid family and are close relatives of crows. The genus of jays is widely and numerously represented in its order, it includes about44 types. Ornithologists suggest that there are also undescribed species that live in areas that are difficult to explore. Within Europe, these birds are combined into one genus, divided into three species. They are divided, in turn, into subspecies. Let's introduce you to some of them.
Common Jay
Widely common in the forests of Eurasia, the reddish-brown bird with blue wings is also found in the northwestern regions of Africa. It is considered the largest - in size it can be compared with a jackdaw. Its plumage looks gray from afar, but if you look closely at the bird, you can see black and white wings with a blue stripe. You can see the features of the appearance of this bird with blue wings in the photo below.
This species is called the Eurasian, or kareza. Another feature of this bird should be mentioned - a crest of black and white feathers on its head, which can rise when the animal is frightened.
Decorated Jay
This bird has a black-violet color of the head, a dark blue back and elytra, chestnut feathers with a purple tint on the rest of the body. The decorated jay is common only in the Japanese islands.
Himalayan Jay
About where this variety lives, you can understand from its name. The plumage of these birds is very beautiful. Mostly cold tones stand out in it.
American Blue Jay
This bird with blue wings can be found in the centralareas of the USA. It inhabits mixed, pine, beech and oak forests. Sometimes they settle near human habitation, where they feed on food waste in addition to the main food. The main tone of the feather in these birds is bluish-blue, with a black stripe on the neck and white specks located throughout the body. The nests of these jays are very strong and neat structures that birds build from branches and pieces of lichen. Inside they are lined with wool, reinforced with earth and wet clay.
Black-headed magpie-jay
These birds are found in Mexico. With the structure of a sharp and long tail, they really resemble magpies. When excited or frightened, their tuft is bent. The color of this bird is spectacular: wings with blue feathers above and white below, the head and neck are black. The beak of these jays is very strong, which helps the birds to get food. It is interesting to watch how these birds eat, holding the food with the toes of one of their feet. On the other they stand during the meal.
Yucatan Jay
Very rare variety. These birds are so shy that ornithologists know little about them. Settle in the ruins of Mayan cities. The plumage is black in front, blue in the back.
Blue Bush Jay
This variety can only be found in the forests of Florida. The wings, head and tail of these birds are blue, and light gray below. Due to the rarity of the species, the scrub jay was taken under protection.
Lifestyle and habitat
Even such a bright plumage, as well as a diurnal lifestyle, do not allow you to often see jays in natural conditions. Birds are sensitive to the slightest movements and rustles nearby. They instantly hide in dense branches, alerting other relatives about the threat with alarming cries. Loud sounds made by jays accompany the object that alarmed them for a long time. For such vigilance they are called forest guards.
Jays can be sedentary birds or nomads, in rare cases - migratory. It depends on the chosen habitat and climatic conditions. The range of such birds is extensive, they are found in many places on our planet. Close relatives of such birds are the nutcracker, nutcracker, and crow. As we have said, most varieties of jays are very shy. It is especially difficult for birds with blue wings to live in winter. Leaves fall off, making it harder for them to hide in the trees.
They try not to catch the eye of people. And this feature is fully justified: their life is full of dangers. Common jays prefer to settle in forests: coniferous, deciduous and mixed. They are found in parks if they have a lot of vegetation. Sometimes, though not often, jays appear near human settlements. They mislead people with their concerts, imitating many sounds heard near dwellings.
Sometimes these birds steal food from people, such as potato tubers laid out to dry. One more funny feature of the behavior of these blue-winged birds should be told. Jays lovesit on an anthill. They patiently bear insects on their body and their bites. Ornithologists consider this a kind of therapy: formic acid protects birds from parasites. Jays that stay winter in their native lands choose shelter from bad weather in dry stumps, tree crevices, as well as in the roots and cracks in the bark of trees.
Food
These birds are happy to eat plant foods: nuts, berries and seeds. Subspecies living in Europe are not averse to eating acorns. They store them in huge quantities - one jay can harvest up to 4 kg, carrying their trophies over a long distance. Often, birds forget about their pantries. Thanks to their thriftiness, oak groves grow. In the same way, they spread the seeds of other trees - bird cherry, mountain ash.
Enemies of jays
These birds have a lot of them: it is easy to take "under the gun" of such bright birds. Of the birds, goshawks and owls pose a danger to them. Of the animals, jays should beware of the cunning marten.
Benefits of jays
These birds feed their chicks with caterpillars of insects, including harmful ones. For example, other birds prefer not to touch the pine barbel, and jays easily cope with it, for which naturalists call them the orderlies of the forest.
Reproduction
Spring is the time for mating troubles for jays. In search of a chosen one and an attempt to please her, male jays coo, make noise, straighten their tufts. As a rule, by the onset of summer, the choice of partners on safe, inhabitedplots. Then the couples begin to prepare for the appearance of offspring.
And above all, they need to build nests. They are usually found on the branches of trees at a height of one and a half meters. Jays build them from stems and twigs, wool and grass. Soon after the dwelling is built, greenish-yellow spotted eggs appear in it. There can be up to seven of them. During this crucial period, jays are especially shy and cautious. Therefore, ornithologists find it difficult to say which parent hatches the chicks. Presumably, the female plays the main role in this process.
After two and a half weeks, helpless and completely dependent on their parents chicks are born, which are rapidly developing. In just 20 days they become independent. A year later, the young become parents themselves.
Jay lifespan
On average, these blue-winged birds live in the wild for seven years, but in some cases, under favorable conditions, they can live up to fifteen.
At home, caring for jays is simple: they are unpretentious, intelligent and well trained. The birds are very active and interesting to watch. Surprisingly, despite the natural fearfulness, quite often they become attached to a person. Of course, it is impossible to compare their ability to reproduce human speech with the amazing talents of parrots, for example. But with proper care, caring attitude, these birds delight their owners for a long time and can live up to 22 years.
