BLUE JAY. 



477. Cyanocitta cristata. \\]/2 inches. 



This is one of the best known and most beautiful 

 birds that we have, but, unfortunately, he has a very 

 bad reputation. He has often been found robbing 

 other birds of their eggs and young as well as food 

 and nesting material; small eggs they carry away be- 

 tween their mandibles, but larger ones they spear and 

 fly away with them impaled on the end of the bill. 

 They are very active birds and are always engaged in 

 gathering food, usually acorns or other nuts, and hid- 

 ing them away for future use. 



Notes. A two-syllabled whistle or a harsh, discord- 

 ant scream. Besides these two common notes they 

 make an endless variety of sounds mimicking other 

 birds. 



Nest. Of twigs and sticks in bushes or low trees, 

 preferably young pines. The four eggs are pale green- 

 ish blue specked with brown (1.10 x. 80). 



Range. N. A. east of the Rockies from the Gulf to 

 Labrador, resident in the U. S. The Florida Blue Jay 

 (florincola) is smaller and has less white on wings and 

 tail. 



