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Canada's Species   Birds

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Photo:Mont St-Hilaire Nature Center
Blue Jay. Photo:Mont St-Hilaire Nature Center

It would be hard to overlook the blue jay in Canada. Its broad, yet distinctive repertoire of songs, its bold coloration, and it's distribution in nearly all forested habitats of Southern Canada make this species known to wilderness campers and suburban dwellers alike. Although originally an inhabitant of wilderness areas, the blue jay has adapted well to human-dominated landscapes, and commonly dominates bird feeding stations. Although its diet is mostly plant materials such as seeds, nuts, and berries, the blue jay is actually an omnivore; insects, small mammals, amphibians, fish, and even the eggs and young of other birds round out the blue jay's diet.

Map of Blue Jay in Canada
Distribution of Blue Jay in Canada

   
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