Blue Jay vs Carrion Crow

Cyanocitta cristata compared with Corvus corone

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Blue Jay Carrion Crow
Scientific Name Cyanocitta cristata Corvus corone
Order Passeriformes Passeriformes
Family Corvidae Corvidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 28.0 cm (11.0 in)
Wingspan 42.0 cm (16.5 in) 64.8 cm (25.5 in)
Weight 87.0 g (3.07 oz) 527.8333333333334 g (18.62 oz)
Diet Omnivorous — nuts (especially acorns), seeds, berries, insects, and occasionally eggs or nestlings of other … --
Clutch Size 2-7 4-5
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Blue Jay 28.0 cm
Carrion Crow
Wingspan
Blue Jay 42.0 cm
Carrion Crow 64.8 cm
Weight
Blue Jay 87.0 g
Carrion Crow 527.8333333333334 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Blue Jay only

None

Carrion Crow only

Blue Jay

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

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Song & Call Comparison

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.

Carrion Crow

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Geographic Range & Migration

Blue Jay

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

Carrion Crow

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Blue Jay

Least Concern

Carrion Crow

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How to Tell Them Apart

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

Carrion Crow

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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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