What Does a Female Blue Jay Look Like?

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Female blue jays are bright blue with a bluish-cast white chest and belly, and the wings and tail appear “tiled” with blocks of blue, white and black. The blue head feathers stand up in a crest that is accented with black. Both females and males look the same.

Blue jays live at the edges of forests, as well as in parks and yards, especially those with oak trees that provide their favorite food, acorns. They also eat insects, seeds and grains. Blue jays have a peculiar habit when they molt, or lose their feathers, called “anting.” The birds rub ants on their bodies, presumably to soothe their skin until new plumage grows. They also perform this behavior with berries.