Blue Jays belong to the Corvid family, which makes them cousins to Crows and Ravens—birds known for their extreme intelligence.
They aren't just pretty faces; they are complex problem solvers. While Cardinals capture our hearts with beauty, Blue Jays capture our curiosity with brains.
Here are 3 mind-blowing facts that prove Blue Jays are the geniuses of your backyard.
1. The "Fake Hawk" Trick
Have you ever heard a Red-shouldered Hawk scream in your yard, sent the small birds scattering in panic, only to realize it was just a Blue Jay?
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The Trick: Blue Jays are excellent mimics. They can perfectly imitate the call of local hawks.
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The Reason: Scientists believe they do this for two reasons:
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To warn others: To tell other Jays that a real hawk is nearby.
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To deceive: To scare other birds away from a feeder or bird bath before they arrive. It’s a clever deception tactic to clear the dinner table!
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2. The Accidental Foresters
If you love Oak trees, you should thank a Blue Jay.
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The Habit: Blue Jays are famous for "caching" (hiding) food. They bury thousands of acorns and nuts every fall to save for winter.
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The Result: While they have photographic memories, they don't recover every single nut. The ones they forget grow into new trees. Blue Jays are credited with helping spread Oak forests across North America after the last Ice Age.
3. They Use "Tools"
Using tools is a sign of high intelligence usually reserved for chimps and humans.
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The Skill: While rare in the wild, Blue Jays in captivity have been observed using strips of newspaper to rake in food pellets from outside their cages. They also test nuts by shaking them to see if the kernel inside is full or empty before flying off with it. They don't waste energy on bad nuts.
Conclusion: Smart Birds Like Smart Design
Blue Jays are observant, cautious, and calculating. They assess their environment constantly.
This is why they often reject flimsy, wobbly bird baths. They know it's not safe. Once they realize your Concrete Bird Bath is a reliable, stable source of water that never tips over, they will remember its location for life—and maybe even plant an oak tree next to it!
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Ready to host these geniuses? Check our guide on [How to Attract Blue Jays to Your Bird Bath].