Blue Jay vs Brown Jay

Cyanocitta cristata compared with Cyanocorax morio

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Blue Jay Brown Jay
Scientific Name Cyanocitta cristata Cyanocorax morio
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) 40.3 cm (15.9 in)
Weight 87.0 g (3.07 oz) 198.54999999999998 g (7.00 oz)
Diet Omnivorous — nuts (especially acorns), seeds, berries, insects, and occasionally eggs or nestlings of other … --
Clutch Size 2-7 2-8
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Blue Jay 28.0 cm
Brown Jay
Wingspan
Blue Jay 42.0 cm
Brown Jay 40.3 cm
Weight
Blue Jay 87.0 g
Brown Jay 198.54999999999998 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Blue Jay only

None

Brown Jay only

None

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.

Brown Jay

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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.

Brown Jay

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Blue Jay

Least Concern

Brown Jay

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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

Brown Jay

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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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