Blue Jay Pear in a Flowering Pear Tree Poster

"Blue Jay Pear in a Flowering Pear Tree" by Catherine Sherman. Two blue jays perch in a flowering pear tree after a rain shower. Their crests are flat, their feathers wet, but they don't seem to mind. Spring is here! The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a passerine (perching) bird in the family Corvidae (crow), native to North America. It resides through most of eastern and central United States, although western populations may be migratory. Resident populations are also found in Newfoundland, Canada, while breeding populations can be found across southern Canada. It breeds in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and is common in residential areas. It is predominantly blue with a white chest and underparts, and a blue crest; it has a black, U-shaped collar around its neck and a black border behind the crest. Males and females are similar in size and plumage, and plumage does not vary throughout the year. Four subspecies of the blue jay have been recognized. The blue jay mainly feeds on nuts and seeds such as acorns, soft fruits, arthropods, and occasionally small vertebrates.