Discover All 4 Types of Blue Jay Birds (With Pictures)

Blue jays are passerines from the Corvidae family and are native to the eastern half of the United States. They are a popular species within the birding community for their brilliant shades of blue, black collars, and prominent crests. But several birds are often mistaken for blue jays. Are there multiple species? Discover four types of blue jay birds and learn about their locations and appearance.

How Many Types of Blue Jays Are There?

There are four subspecies of blue jays. However, the variations in this species are subtle and no definitive boundaries exist.

• The Northern Blue Jay is the largest subspecies and resides across Canada and the Northern United States. You may notice duller, paler plumage almost washed out in appearance. 
• The Coastal Blue Jay is seen along the United State’s coastline, from North Carolina to Texas. But they are absent in Southern Florida. This subspecies is medium-sized and features vibrant plumage.
• The Florida Blue Jay resides in Southern Florida and is the smallest subspecies. And their plumage is similar to the northern blue jay, with duller blue feathers. 
• The Interior Blue Jay is the last blue jay subspecies and can be found in the interior of the United States, often mixing with the northern blue jay. These medium-sized birds feature darker, contrasting colors, with vibrant blue above and a clean white underside.

While there are slight differences within the blue jay species, all subspecies tend to share the same behavior and diet. This bird is bold and aggressive, chasing away predatory birds, like hawks and owls, and robbing the nests of other birds. And they are omnivores that feed on vegetable matter, nuts, grains, fruits, and small invertebrates.

How Many Varieties of Jay Birds Are There?

There are over 40 jay species within the Corvidae family and several within the western hemisphere. There are ten jay species in North America, including the blue jay. 

Here are the other jay species:

• Brown jay
• Mexican jay
• Canada jay
• Green jay
• Pinyon jay
• Steller’s jay
• Florida scrub jay
• California scrub jay
• Island scrub jay

What Kind of Bird Looks Like a Blue Jay?

The California scrub jay is often mistaken for a blue jay. They are large and lanky with long tails and straight, broad bills. Their coloring is what usually throws people off, though. The scrub jay is azure blue and gray above and white below with a blue-collar. The blue can vary depending on the lighting, and from a distance, this bird appears very similar to a blue jay. However, it lacks the checkered patterning on its wings and back. The California scrub jay also does not possess a crest.

What is the Difference Between a Steller Jay and a Blue Jay?

Many jaybirds can look similar, especially when their coloring is relatively the same. However, Steller’s jay possesses fairly obvious differences from the blue jay. Their charcoal black heads and necks are their most prominent feature. They also possess more prominent triangular crests than blue jays, and their blue plumage is much darker. But they are bold, intelligent, and noisy like blue jays.

What Attracts Blue Jays to Your Yard?

If you live in the Central to Eastern United States, blue jays can be a fun bird to watch as they visit your backyard feeder. They live year-round in their range and always appreciate feeding stations and bird baths. 

This species is larger than other passerines and may need a sturdier feeder to perch on. Consider adding a platform or open tray feeder to your property. They also enjoy visiting nut-bearing and fruit-producing trees and bushes. They are excellent natural food sources, and you won’t have to worry about blue jays bullying other birds and cleaning out your feeders.

The blue jay’s favorite feeder food includes:

• Sunflower seeds
• Cracked corn
• Suet
• Mealworms

You can attract blue jays during the winter by providing a heated bird bath and by not trimming evergreen trees in your yard. These birds use the branches as shelter during the colder months.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Tom Reichner/Shutterstock.com