{"id":13325,"date":"2019-11-18T06:30:12","date_gmt":"2019-11-18T11:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=13325"},"modified":"2019-11-15T16:28:51","modified_gmt":"2019-11-15T21:28:51","slug":"take-5-boisterous-blue-jays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-boisterous-blue-jays\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Boisterous Blue Jays"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Clever, pugnacious Blue Jays<\/a> are well-known for their territorial behavior and raucous Jay! Jay!<\/em> call, but they are actually capable of an amazing array of vocal sounds, including whistles, toots, and wheedle-wheedle<\/em> calls. Blue Jays can even mimic the scream of a Red-tailed Hawk in order to scare other birds! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like all blue birds, Blue Jays are not actually, in fact, blue! Most of the vibrant feather colors found in birds, like yellow and red, come from pigments in their food that absorb certain wavelengths of light, but no birds (and almost no species in the entire animal kingdom) are capable of producing blue pigments. Instead, the blue color is the result of light refracting off of tiny, specialized structures in the bird’s feathers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Blue Jays<\/a> on our website, read a blog post<\/a> on why they are so noisy this time of year, and check out our Blue Jay Quick Guide<\/a> and enjoy these five photos from our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Blue
Blue Jay \u00a9 William Zhen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Blue
Blue Jay \u00a9 Owens Linehan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Blue
Blue Jays \u00a9 Jonathan Eckerson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Blue
Blue Jay \u00a9 Sue Feldberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Blue
Blue Jays \u00a9 Jillian Alexander<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Clever, pugnacious Blue Jays are well-known for their territorial behavior and raucous Jay! Jay! call, but they are actually capable of an amazing array of vocal sounds, including whistles, toots, and wheedle-wheedle calls. Blue Jays can even mimic the scream of a Red-tailed Hawk in order to scare other birds! Like all blue birds, Blue Jays are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":13330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[28,83,84],"class_list":["post-13325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5","tag-birds","tag-photo-contest","tag-photography"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/11\/4507William_Zhen19865.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3sV","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17267,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-blue-jays-favorite-snack\/","url_meta":{"origin":13325,"position":0},"title":"A Blue Jay’s Favorite Snack","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"November 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"On the trunk of an Oak Tree, a squirrel scales the bark in pursuit of a treasured acorn, while a chipmunk nearby already has its cheeks stuffed. Squirrels and chipmunks are the usual suspects for acorn collection, but they have a formidable opponent: the Blue Jay.\u00a0 Blue Jay Acorn Frenzy\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A jay on the ground near a tree trunk with a leaf in its mouth.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/KForesto.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/KForesto.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/KForesto.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/KForesto.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5692,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/mobs-rule\/","url_meta":{"origin":13325,"position":1},"title":"Mobs Rule","author":"Rosemary","date":"August 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you ever seen small birds dive-bombing a larger one\u2014often a bird of prey? This behavior is called \u201cmobbing,\u201d and it\u2019s a common phenomenon that you may encounter any time you're outdoors. The Mobsters Mobbing occurs when birds of one or more species aggressively approach a bird perceived as a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/06\/mob.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/06\/mob.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/06\/mob.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5249,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-blue-jays\/","url_meta":{"origin":13325,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Blue Jays","author":"Rosemary","date":"April 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Blue jays are renowned for their loud cries, raucous behavior, and intelligence. Less well-known is their role in spreading oak forests due to their preference for acorns, which they store underground\u2014effectively planting them. Here are five great portraits of jays from past editions of our Photo Contest. Have a great\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/04\/blue-jay-quick-guide.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7663,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/banding-peregrine-falcon-chicks-in-boston\/","url_meta":{"origin":13325,"position":3},"title":"Banding Peregrine Falcon Chicks in Boston","author":"Hillary T.","date":"May 20, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Norman Smith, Director of Mass Audubon's Blue Hills Trailside Museum, and Tom French, Director of Mass Wildlife\u2019s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program, completed another successful banding of Peregrine Falcon chicks in the clock tower of the Marriott Vacation Club Pulse at Custom House in Boston. The duo has been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Project Updates"","block_context":{"text":"Project Updates","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/project-updates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/IMG_0163_640.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/IMG_0163_640.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/IMG_0163_640.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16037,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/july-13-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease\/","url_meta":{"origin":13325,"position":4},"title":"July 13 Update on the Unknown Bird Disease","author":"William Freedberg","date":"July 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Please see July 14 update for latest recommendations. An as-of-yet unidentified disease has been affecting birds across the mid-Atlantic US, leading to neurological symptoms and eye infections in several backyard species. The disease has been observed most in fledglings of Common Grackles, Blue Jays, American Robins, and European Starlings. 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We miss\u00a0seeing our visiting chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, and woodpeckers at our nature centers and offices!\u00a0\u00a0 Keeping feeders down is still the right decision in light of the\u00a0disease outbreak\u00a0in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest. So far,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13325"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13325\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13335,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13325\/revisions\/13335"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}