Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) certainly eat blueberries, along with a wide variety of other fruits and berries. This common North American bird is known for its opportunistic feeding habits, which allows it to thrive across diverse environments, from deep forests to suburban backyards. While blueberries are not the mainstay of their diet, they are a highly favored food source when readily available during the summer months. The Blue Jay’s adaptability and intelligence make it a successful forager, utilizing different food types as seasons and availability change.
The Blue Jay’s Omnivorous Diet
The Blue Jay’s preference for blueberries is rooted in its nature as a true omnivore, consuming both plant matter and animal protein. The majority of their diet is actually vegetable matter, estimated by the Audubon Society to be around 75% of their total food intake. This primary portion consists of acorns, seeds, nuts, and grains, which provide dense, long-lasting energy sources for the species. Blue Jays possess strong, black bills that are well-suited for cracking open hard shells like those of acorns and peanuts.
The remaining part of their diet is animal-based, including insects, spiders, caterpillars, and other small invertebrates. These protein sources are particularly important during the spring and summer breeding season to feed their growing young. Fruits and berries, including blueberries, fall into the plant matter category, serving as a sweet, water-rich supplement to their primary diet of hard mast and seeds.
Foraging Behavior and Soft Fruit Consumption
When Blue Jays encounter soft fruit like blueberries, their foraging behavior shifts to a rapid harvesting strategy. The bright blue color of ripe berries is highly visible, making them an easy target to spot from a distance. Unlike small songbirds that eat berries directly on the bush, a Blue Jay often takes multiple berries, holding them in its mouth or a throat pouch (gular pouch) to carry them away. This method allows them to transport a significant volume of food in a single visit.
This rapid collection is linked to their habit of caching or storing food for later consumption. Blue Jays are famous for burying hard-shelled nuts like acorns, but they will also cache soft fruits, which are usually consumed shortly after collection. This tendency to hoard food explains why a sudden influx of Blue Jays can wipe out a crop of ripe blueberries quickly. Caching is a survival mechanism, ensuring a food supply during periods of scarcity, such as winter or drought.
Protecting Your Berry Crop
Gardeners concerned about losing their blueberry harvest can employ several non-harmful deterrence methods to manage Blue Jay feeding. The most effective strategy is exclusion, which physically prevents the birds from reaching the fruit. This is best achieved by draping fine, durable bird netting over the bushes as the berries begin to ripen. The netting must be securely fastened to the ground or a frame to prevent the birds from finding a way underneath.
Visual Deterrents
Visual deterrents can be used, though they require frequent repositioning to remain effective. Hanging strips of reflective tape or old CDs near the bushes creates movement and light flashes that can confuse and repel the birds.
Alternative Feeding
Placing alternative food sources like suet or shelled peanuts in a nearby feeder may redirect the Blue Jays’ attention away from the blueberry bushes. This offers them a more calorie-dense, easy meal, reducing their incentive to forage for your fruit.