196 BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



bered hillsides, where droves of them were rollicking in noisy 

 fashion through the woods or flying up the river. The im- 

 pression made at the time was that they were migrating, but 

 none of the specimens collected could be referred to the north- 

 em race. 



Fresh eggs have been found at Leighton April 20 and May 

 14; Barachias, April 22; Autaugaville, April 26; Coosada, 

 April 28; and York, May 8. 



General habits. — The blue jay is most numerous in dry, de- 

 ciduous woodland where there is an abundance of mast, but it 

 frequents also cultivated lands and the shade trees in town 

 and village streets. During the greater part of the year the 

 birds are noisy, restless creatures, roving about the woods in 

 loose flocks, but during the nesting season they become more 

 quiet and retiring. They have a variety of characteristic 

 notes and are likewise good mimics, being especially proficient 

 in imitating the cry of the red-shouldered hawk. They are 

 mistrusted by all the smaller woodland birds, and with good 

 reason, for many a nest of vireo, warbler, or sparrow is 

 despoiled of its eggs or young by these heartless freebooters. 

 The jays take great delight in worrying owls or hawks whose 

 retreats they may discover. The nest is a rather bulky struc- 

 ture, placed in the crotch of a tree, usually near the trunk, 

 at a distance varying from 10 to 30 feet above the ground; 

 pine trees are preferred, but deciduous trees and vines are 

 sometimes used. Nest building begins by the first of April. 



Food habits. — Examination of over 500 stomachs of the 

 blue jay in the Biological Survey showed its food to be com- 

 posed mainly of vegetable matter, of which mast forms the 

 largest item — about 43 per cent; acorns are the nuts most 

 frequently eaten, but beechnuts, chestnuts, chinquapins, hazel- 

 nuts, and pecans are also taken. Wild fruits are eaten during 

 the summer and fall and constitute about 7 per cent of the 

 food of the year ; cultivated fruits are taken from June to the 

 end of the year and in July form 15 per cent of the food of 

 that month. Corn furnishes about 18 per cent of the total 

 food, and is taken every month, but in greater quantities dur- 

 ing winter and early spring, when much of it is necessarily 

 waste. 



