Saturday, February 28, 2009

Birdfeeder Bully: Blue Jay




The bright and colorful Blue Jays keep things interesting around my winter bird feeder. Whereas many other birds are content to share, when the Blue Jays arrive all the other birds flee.

I have never observed the Blue Jays attacking another bird but then again the other birds don’t allow the Blue Jays much chance either.

Winter is beginning to relax its grasp here in southern Pennsylvania. A week ago I observed my first red-winged blackbird sitting in some cattails along a frozen pond. This morning a number of them were present around the wetlands although none afforded a good photo-op.

For more Critters visit our friend Misty’s Camera Critters Blog

26 comments:

Ken Conger Photography said...

Been enjoying these close-ups Coy. Super detail and eye contact. Blue Skies.

Anonymous said...

this bird reminds me of the kiddie song - blue jay blue jay on my window (3 x) blue jay i love you!

she's very cute.

come meet Hogan!

Barb said...

Apparently the other birds respect the Jay. Who wouldn't? Look at the one in the picture.. so beautiful!

T said...

Beautiful closeup!

Anonymous said...

One of my favorite birds. They are feathered watchdogs.

Kim said...

Gorgeous closeup! I love how you were able to get all of the detail in its lovely face.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Another great portrait.Send some of the spring like weather our way.LOL
Blessings,Ruth

Carla said...

What a beautiful close up!

Reader Wil said...

You have an extraordinarly good knowledge of birds, I think! The birds in your region are so much more colourful than where I live.

jenn said...

I always saw blue jays when I lived in NY. Down south, they are not that common.

Anonymous said...

I love the Blue Jays! Mine like my squirrel feeder with the corn better than my (non-corn) bird seed feeders. Sneaky :)

Leedra said...

Another fantastic closeup portrait.

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ASHE said...

Bully? But he looks so innocent, especially without his topknot on display :)

Rose said...

He is handsome, but when I was a kid I witnessed blue jays running robins from their nest. I don't know if there were still just eggs or if they had hatched, but I seen it with my own eyes.

Steve Buser said...

Great close up. I guess I have never observed blue jays by a feeder. Mostly just on a branch or on the ground. But I never saw another bird around them either.

Carolina said...

Great close up!

Tink *~*~* said...

Perhaps it's because the blue jays are really loud? I'm a human with bigger ears than some tiny birds, and even I find jays to be aurally aversive at times!

Tink *~*~*
Now Playing at My Mobile Adventures *~*~* :
The unfortunately named peacock at Disney and Busch Gardens

June said...

Beautiful compositon!

EG CameraGirl said...

The blue jays are bossy but for some reason leave the goldfinches and chickadees at my feeders alone even though we serve sunflower seeds.

So the red-winged blackbirds are on their way north! Spring is close. ;-)

DeniseinVA said...

What an awesome photograph, so detailed. Great shot!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Salty: I do like both the Bluejay and the Cardinal for bringing so much color to the bird world.

Dianne said...

fantastic close-up! so handsome to be such a bully

floreta said...

great bird pictures! i especially like the cardinal. how do you get them in the backdrop?

Montanagirl said...

Nice Blue Jay shot. I caught a nice photo of a BJ a few years when we had a half dozen stay all winter. He was tossing a peanut in the air with mouth open when I got the picture. Someday I'll post it again for your viewing enjoyment!

Anonymous said...

I really like your closeups of the blue jay and the cardinal. I enjoy seeing all of the detail and the colours in their feathers.

Anonymous said...

The crows and magpies keep the bluejays in check around our place. I love to look out the window and see the chickadees and other little guys mixed up with the grouse, bluejays and squirrels. The magpies won't even move over for the dogs! lol

Very cool shot. I love the detail you've captured.