Florida Scrub-jay vs Blue Jay

Aphelocoma coerulescens compared with Cyanocitta cristata

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Florida Scrub-jay Blue Jay
Scientific Name Aphelocoma coerulescens Cyanocitta cristata
Order Passeriformes Passeriformes
Family Corvidae Corvidae
Conservation Status Vulnerable Least Concern
Length 28.0 cm (11.0 in)
Wingspan 23.3 cm (9.2 in) 42.0 cm (16.5 in)
Weight 76.25 g (2.69 oz) 87.0 g (3.07 oz)
Diet -- Omnivorous — nuts (especially acorns), seeds, berries, insects, and occasionally eggs or nestlings of other …
Clutch Size 1-6 2-7
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Florida Scrub-jay
Blue Jay 28.0 cm
Wingspan
Florida Scrub-jay 23.3 cm
Blue Jay 42.0 cm
Weight
Florida Scrub-jay 76.25 g
Blue Jay 87.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Florida Scrub-jay only

None

Blue Jay only

Blue Jay

Deciduous and mixed forests, parks, and suburban areas. Highly adaptable to human-modified landscapes.

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Song & Call Comparison

Florida Scrub-jay

Blue Jay

Song

A harsh, ringing 'jaay-jaay-jaay'. Also mimics Red-tailed Hawk and other species convincingly. Gives soft, liquid 'bell' calls and gurgling whispers in flocks.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Florida Scrub-jay

Blue Jay

Eastern and central North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Some populations migrate irregularly.

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Conservation Status

Vulnerable

Florida Scrub-jay

Least Concern

Blue Jay

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How to Tell Them Apart

Florida Scrub-jay

Blue Jay

Plumage

Bright blue upperparts with black barring on the wings and tail. White face and underparts with a black necklace. Prominent blue crest.

Bill

Stout, straight black bill

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About These Birds

Blue Jay

The blue jay is a bold, intelligent member of the corvid family known for its striking plumage and loud calls. Blue jays are important dispersers of oak trees, as they cache thousands of acorns each autumn. Their complex social behavior includes mimicking the calls of hawks to scare other birds from feeders.

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Related Comparisons

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