Blue Jay vs Purplish Jay
Cyanocitta cristata compared with Cyanocorax cyanomelas
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue Jay | Purplish Jay |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cyanocitta cristata | Cyanocorax cyanomelas |
| 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) | 37.5 cm (14.8 in) |
| Weight | 87.0 g (3.07 oz) | 201.5 g (7.11 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — nuts (especially acorns), seeds, berries, insects, and occasionally eggs or nestlings of other … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-7 | 2-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Blue Jay
Deciduous and mixed forests, parks, and suburban areas. Highly adaptable to human-modified landscapes.
Song & Call Comparison
Blue Jay
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.
Purplish Jay
Geographic Range & Migration
Blue Jay
Eastern and central North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Some populations migrate irregularly.
Purplish Jay
Conservation Status
Blue Jay
Purplish Jay
How to Tell Them Apart
Blue Jay
Bright blue upperparts with black barring on the wings and tail. White face and underparts with a black necklace. Prominent blue crest.
Stout, straight black bill
Purplish Jay
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.