Different Blue Jays You Should Know About!

Have you recently found out there are different types of Blue Jays and want to know more about them?

Maybe you didn’t know there was more than one type of Blue Jay and now want to find out everything you can about them?

Different Blue Jays You Should Know About!

Whatever the question might be that brought you here today, we have the answer for you!

Blue Jays are beautiful birds and ones we see across the country. But finding out more about the types of them can be tricky.

Often, we can find ourselves scrolling online, looking for information about the different types, but never getting the answers that we need.

You can quickly find yourself frustrated and unsure where to turn. 

Well, no more! Today we are here with the answers that you need!

Just keep reading to find out what the different types of Blue Jays are and learn more about them!

Different Blue Jays You Should Know About

Let’s get straight into it! Today we have a list of the different types of Blue Jays and some facts about them we think you will love.

So just stick with us as we look at the different types now. 

Blue Jay 

Let’s start today’s list with the most popular, the Blue Jay. These birds are large blue songbirds that are seen across North America.

No matter where you live in North America, you are sure to have seen a Blue Jay!

They don’t tend to fear humans so can get up close to them and usually spot one or two in your garden. 

You will have no trouble identifying them because of their blue feathers and their loud noises!

They can be quite aggressive to other birds, so you might see a fight or two by your bird feeders!

These Blue Jays tend to be mid-sized and should be easy to spot.

Now that we have established the common Blue Jay, let’s look at the different subspecies and types of Blue Jays out there! 

Northern Blue Jay 

The Northern Blue Jay is typically found in Southern Canada, mainly Alberta to Quebec, and Northern America.

These are some of the largest Blue Jays you will find, making it easy to identify them. 

Northern Blue Jays also have paler blue markings than Coastal Blue Jays or Western Blue Jays.

They have a similar temperament though, so you will want to rely on the size and color of the bird to identify them. 

Coastal Blue Jay

The Coastal Blue Jay is typically found in coastal southeastern states in the US, with a range from North Carolina to East Texas.

In this range, we exclude southern Florida, and will touch on why later on! 

These birds are mid-sized Jays and can be identified by their bright blue markings.

These are some of the brightest Blue Jays, making them easy to spot! 

Western Blue Jay 

Otherwise known as the Interior Blue Jay, the Western Blue Jay can be found in the area spanning from Southeastern Wyoming and Nebraska, to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Northern Texas. You can identify these birds easily too. 

Different Blue Jays You Should Know About!

Western Blue Jays have dark blue markings mainly on their upper back, with white feathers underneath.

They are also mid-sized Blue Jays, making them smaller than the birds found in the Northern parts of the country. 

Florida Blue Jay 

Also known as Semple’s Blue Jay, the Florida Blue jay is not universally recognized. But this doesn’t mean that we can’t identify them!

They are a little different from other Blue Jays on today’s list and are found only in Southern Florida. 

Compared to other Blue Jays, these are the smallest Blue Jays you can find.

You can still expect it to be a blue color, but it will be far smaller than the other Blue Jays we have looked at today! 

Similar Species 

Along with the types of Blue Jays we have looked at today, there are other similar Jay species.

These are often considered part of the Blue Jay family, but they aren’t.

Instead, they are part of the wider Jay species, but slightly different from Blue Jays. Let’s take a quick look at these similar species now! 

Scrub Jay

These Jays don’t have a crest and can be identified by their solid blue wings and tail.

Unlike Blue Jays, there isn’t any white barring on these birds. 

Western Scrub-Jay 

Similarly, the Western Scrub-Jay does not have a crest. This bird also has no white markings on its tail or wings.

Instead, they have a blue nape (the back of the neck) and cheeks. The rest of the back of the bird is brown-gray. 

Steller’s Jay 

This Jay is most commonly thought to be part of the Blue jay family, but it isn’t!

Although it is also found in western North America, it is easy to identify compared to Blue Jays.

A Steller Jay will have less white on its wings than Blue Jays and darker underparts.

It also has a black head and chest, making it look quite different from the types of Blue Jays that we looked at in today’s article! 

You can typically find this Jay in coniferous forests rather than chilling in your garden! 

Final Thoughts

And there you have it! Although we often think of the Blue Jay as just one type of bird, there are several subspecies you should keep an eye out for!

Most of these subspecies are only found in one location, so if you didn’t live there, it would be harder to see these birds in their natural habitat. 

However, if you were ever to spot one, you can now tell the difference between them!

Their different sizes and colors make it easy to tell them apart, especially once you know the names of the different subspecies.

Why not make a note of the names listed today and see how many you spot on your travels or visits to a local nature reserve? 

Olivia Kepner