Blue Jay

Something about this little blue jay seemed extra peaceful to me. It was resting in a tree near some water, enjoying the shade.

Most blue jays are blue (surprise!). However, some blue jays have a trait called leucism that causes them to be more white. Unlike albinism, which causes a bird to have no melanin and makes their eyes look pink, the Cornell Lab's Project Feeder Watch explains that leucism affects the bird's melanin only partially.^[1] The Cornell Lab of Ornithology shared a photo of a leucistic blue jay on their Facebook page, thanking Michael Garcia (check it out!).^[2]  After seeing the photo, I don't think the bird I saw is leucistic, but it does seem to have a paler head than most blue jays I've seen. 

Still, I'd bet this little bird is thankful to have its pale feathers as opposed to none. That feeling won't last forever. When summer rolls around, blue jays molt.^[3] Young birds molting for the first time are especially prone to going totally bald, says Susan Kieffer for Audubon (her post has a picture of a bald blue jay).^[4] They won't stay bald for long though. They'll start regrowing feathers in about a week, so it's just enough time to sport a temporary new summer do.^[5]

The Details:

Common Name: Blue Jay

Scientific Name: Cyanocitta cristata

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Corvidae

Seen: Sitting in a tree near a body of water

Month: July 2023

Range: Blue Jays can be found year-round in most of the eastern half of the United States (mostly east of North Dakota and part of Texas and Colorado).^[6] In the west, some non-breeding populations can be found, but they are not common. They are also found in parts of Canada! Check out this helpful range map on the Cornell Lab's website to see if they can be found where you live.

Learn More About Blue Jays:

1. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). Albinism and leucism. Project Feeder Watch.
2. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (2014, July 7). [Photo of a leucistic Blue Jay]. Facebook. [Note: The post gives thanks to Michael Garcia]
3. Sun, A. (2022). Birds: An illustrated field guide. Whalen Book Works.
4. Kieffer, S. (2014, September 16). Can birds go bald? Audubon.
5. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). I have a bald bird at my feeder. Is it sick? All About Birds.
6. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d). Blue Jay: Range map. All About Birds.