Blue Jay vs Ratchet-tailed Treepie

Cyanocitta cristata compared with Temnurus temnurus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Blue Jay Ratchet-tailed Treepie
Scientific Name Cyanocitta cristata Temnurus temnurus
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) 26.3 cm (10.4 in)
Weight 87.0 g (3.07 oz) 138.0 g (4.87 oz)
Diet Omnivorous — nuts (especially acorns), seeds, berries, insects, and occasionally eggs or nestlings of other … --
Clutch Size 2-7 2
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Blue Jay 28.0 cm
Ratchet-tailed Treepie
Wingspan
Blue Jay 42.0 cm
Ratchet-tailed Treepie 26.3 cm
Weight
Blue Jay 87.0 g
Ratchet-tailed Treepie 138.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Blue Jay only

None

Ratchet-tailed Treepie 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.

Ratchet-tailed Treepie

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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.

Ratchet-tailed Treepie

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Blue Jay

Least Concern

Ratchet-tailed Treepie

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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

Ratchet-tailed Treepie

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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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