Songs
The Blue Jay vocalization most often considered a song is the “whisper song,” a soft, quiet conglomeration of clicks, chucks, whirrs, whines, liquid notes, and elements of other calls; a singing bout may last longer than 2 minutes.
Calls
- Calls
Recorded by Andrea L. Priori; Randolph Scott Little
- Call
Recorded by Wilbur L. Hershberger
West Virginia May 2000
- Call
Recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller
South Carolina June 1994
- Call
Recorded by Randolph S. Little
Florida March 1962
Courtesy of Macaulay Library
© Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Blue Jays make a large variety of calls. The most often heard is a loud jeer, Also makes clear whistled notes and gurgling sounds. Blue Jays frequently mimic hawks, especially Red-shouldered Hawks.
Backyard Tips
Blue Jays prefer tray feeders or hopper feeders on a post rather than hanging feeders, and they prefer peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet. Planting oak trees will make acorns available for jays of the future. Blue Jays often take drinks from birdbaths.
Find This Bird
Blue Jays are most often detected by their noisy calls. Near shorelines they migrate in loose flocks; you can recognize them by their steady flight, rounded wings, long tail, and white underside. Resident birds may associate in flocks; they usually fly across open areas one at a time, often silently. Also watch for them at feeders.
Get Involved
Keep track of the Blue Jays at your feeder with Project FeederWatch
Look for Blue Jay nests and contribute valuable data about them through NestWatch