Shocking Blue

Meet Cyanocitta cristata - the Blue Jay. 

A larger bird with a showy blue and white-appearing plumage with black accents.  I use the term 'appear' as the feathers of this bird do not contain blue pigmentation.  It is the refraction of sunlight that casts the blue hue.

This is a year-round resident and will move only if there is a scarcity of food.  To whit - this bird caches food for future use and is not averse to mimic the call of a hawk to frighten other birds from my backyard feeder. 

The blue jay is fun to observe and I have been privileged to observe a flock of them on rare occasion and to be scolded by one while bow hunting.  Even rarer is getting a photo on a trail camera!

 

click on the photo for a closer look