Blue jay

Blue jay perched on a wrought-iron post against a soft grey background

Loud, bold, and impossible to miss, the blue jay brings a flash of blue to even the greyest Manitoba day. Its crest, black necklace, and white-barred wings make it one of the most recognizable birds on the prairies. Intelligent and bold, the blue jay is easy to recognize by its blue crest, white face, and black necklace. It is a year-round resident across southern Manitoba and one of the most vocal birds at a backyard feeder.

Blue jays are clever, social members of the crow family. They can imitate the calls of hawks, remember where they have hidden acorns and seeds, and raise the alarm when a predator is near. Many stay in Manitoba through the winter, while others head south for the season. Jays are known for a wide repertoire of calls, including a convincing hawk imitation, and for caching acorns and seeds in the fall.

For more on the blue jay and its habitat, see its species guide at All About Birds.

That blue is not a pigment at all. It comes from the way light scatters inside the feathers, which is why a jay can look dull grey in shadow and brilliant in the sun. Here are some of my favourite frames of this bird.

Field notes in photographs

  • Blue jay perched on a stone bird bath beside pale purple hosta flowers
  • Blue jay in a bare, thorny branch against an orange sunset sky
  • Blue jay on a branch showing bright blue wings and tail
  • Blue jay standing on a snowy rock with a morsel of food in its beak
  • Blue jay perched on the edge of a mossy stone birdbath with ruffled, wet feathers
  • Blue jay perched on a bare branch
  • Blue jay photographed in Manitoba, 2
  • Blue jay photographed in Manitoba, 4
  • Blue jay perched among snow-dusted crabapple branches as snow falls, Manitoba
  • Blue jay with wings spread landing in deep snow with a peanut in its bill, Manitoba
  • Blue jay with a raised crest perched among red crabapples and yellow autumn leaves

Blue jay Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the blue jay in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the blue jay nests and lives year-round, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the blue jay in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Shield (gold) and living year-round in the Boreal Plains and the Prairies (teal). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

Follow new photos

New work is shared on Facebook and Bluesky first.

Follow on FacebookFollow on Bluesky