Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

The bright blue feathers of the blue jay make it hard to mistake for another bird. It's frequently seen at bird feeders, bossy and chasing off any other birds before it feeds. It is an aggressive bird, known to eat the eggs and young of other bird species. But its aggression will also sometimes be to the advantage of other birds, as it is known to harass predators such as owls, hawks and cats.

The blue jay has a loud, gull-like "jeering" call, and also makes whistling and gurgling sounds. The male and female coloring is not differentiated.

While blue jays do migrate, it is believed that not all of the birds migrate every year. Some jays will migrate one year, then spend the next winter north.

Jays can be impressive mimics. Some jays will mimic the call of a hawk, perhaps to alert other creatures that a hawk is in the area. Like other corvids (a bird group including crows, rooks, magpies and ravens), jays have a flexible vocal range, including the ability to mimic parts of human speech.