Birds of North America
Puzzle 06 · Around Homes and Gardens · Page 18 in print
Blue Jay
Blue Jays harvest acorns and store them in holes in the ground.
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The words
Acorns
Oak seeds stored for later feeding.
Beechnuts
Beech seeds that Blue Jays carry away and hide for later use.
Black Necklace
The dark band across the Blue Jay’s pale throat and chest.
Corvidae
The family that includes this species.
Crest
The raised head feathers.
Cyanocitta
The genus of this species.
Great Lakes
A corridor along which migrating flocks are observed.
Hawk Calls
Sounds imitated by this species.
Melanin
Brown pigment in the feathers; blue appearance is structural.
Mimicry
Imitation of a hawk call.
Nest Raiding
Occasional taking of other birds eggs and nestlings.
Peanuts
A favored feeder food.
Rootlets
Lining material in the nest.
Throat Pouch
The throat and upper-esophagus area used to carry food.
Wing Bars
Contrasting bars on the Blue Jay’s wings are recognizable field markings.
Sources
- Blue JayNational Audubon Society
- Blue JayHinterland Who’s Who, Canadian Wildlife Federation and Canadian Wildlife Service
- Blue Jay: IdentificationCornell Lab of Ornithology
- Blue Jay: OverviewCornell Lab of Ornithology
- Blue Jay: Life HistoryCornell Lab of Ornithology