Bluebirds and blue jays are often confused due to their striking blue plumage and similar names. Understanding the distinctions between them requires looking beyond color to their biological classifications, physical attributes, behaviors, and preferred environments.
Not the Same Bird
Bluebirds and blue jays are distinct species belonging to different bird families. Bluebirds, such as the Eastern, Western, and Mountain Bluebirds, are members of the thrush family (Turdidae), which also includes robins.
The Blue Jay is a member of the crow family (Corvidae), which includes crows, ravens, and magpies. Corvids are generally recognized for their intelligence and complex social behaviors. While both birds display shades of blue, their biological classifications place them in separate lineages.
Distinguishing Features
Distinguishing bluebirds from blue jays involves observing several key physical and auditory characteristics. Blue jays are noticeably larger, typically measuring 9 to 12 inches in length with a wingspan of 13 to 17 inches. Bluebirds are smaller, usually 6 to 8 inches long with an 11 to 13-inch wingspan. This size difference is often the first visual cue to distinguish them.
Their feather coloration and patterns also vary. Blue jays exhibit vibrant blue plumage on their backs, wings, and tails, accented with black barring and a distinctive black U-shaped necklace. Bluebirds, particularly the Eastern Bluebird, display sky-blue on their backs and heads, with rusty orange or reddish-brown underparts. Western Bluebirds have more extensive rufous, while Mountain Bluebirds are almost entirely pale blue.
A prominent feature unique to the blue jay is its crest, a noticeable tuft of feathers that can be raised or lowered. Bluebirds lack this crest, having a smooth, rounded head profile. Their beaks also differ; blue jays have a stouter, conical beak for cracking nuts and seeds, while bluebirds have a more slender, pointed beak for catching insects.
Vocalizations offer another clear distinction. Blue jays are known for their loud, raucous calls, often a harsh “jay jay” or a mimicry of other birds, including hawk calls. Bluebirds, in contrast, produce soft, warbling, and melodious songs, often described as a gentle “chur-lee” or a series of soft trills.
Beyond Appearance: Behavior and Habitat
Their diets also highlight differences. Blue jays are omnivores, consuming acorns, nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, and even eggs or nestlings. They are well-known for caching acorns and other food items, burying them for later consumption. Bluebirds are primarily insectivores in warmer months, feeding on grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. In colder seasons, they shift to consuming berries and small fruits, such as sumac and hackberry.
Socially, blue jays often appear in groups and are known for assertive, sometimes aggressive interactions with other birds. They can be quite boisterous and territorial. Bluebirds are generally less social, typically seen alone or in pairs during breeding season, forming small family groups in non-breeding months. They are generally more docile and less confrontational.
Habitat preferences also vary. Blue jays thrive in diverse environments, including deciduous, coniferous, and mixed woodlands, as well as suburban areas with mature trees and bird feeders. Bluebirds prefer open woodlands, orchards, farmlands, and meadows with scattered trees or posts, often requiring open areas for foraging. They are frequently found in habitats with short grass and perching spots.
Nesting habits further distinguish them. Blue jays construct open cup-shaped nests from twigs, leaves, and sometimes mud, typically placed high in the branches of trees or large shrubs. Bluebirds are cavity nesters, building nests inside existing holes in trees, old woodpecker cavities, or human-made nest boxes.