Blue jay diet plans are similar throughout the subspecies. Grab a peanut and hurry away to hide it. In addition to Blue Jays, I’ve regularly seen Red-bellied Woodpeckers enjoy peanuts in the shell. As I do most mornings, I filled my bird feeders, including putting a couple of handfuls of whole peanuts in a platform feeder on my deck. Soon the jays were skipping the middleman. Especially in winter. Many birds that thrive on nuts will spend weeks in autumn storing nuts by filling up cavities, niches in bark, small ground hollows, or other hiding places with ripe nuts. The upper parts are bluish gray and brightest on the rump. The blue jays have a special table in the garden. Blue Jays aren’t likely to stick around and wait if the food runs empty. Their diet plans depend on the species and whether it is an adult individual bird or a baby blue jay. Had a chance to do some birding over the long holiday. The four types of this bird are Florida Blue Jays, Interior Blue Jays, Coastal Blue Jays, and Northern Blue Jays. Nuts are especially popular as a winter bird food because they are long-lasting and easy to hide for later use. Do Blue Jays remember where they hide their peanuts? Right now Blue Jays are looking for seeds and nuts they can cache to help them survive over the winter. I have watched a blue jay pick up a peanut and cover it with a leaf to hide it from the squirrels and drop them in … Their crown and crest are gray-blue. In one research study, blue jays were observed storing over 2,000 beech tree nuts in one month. Blue Jays and Cardinals do not “fly around together” but they are eastern North American woodland birds that share a cross-section of the same foods. Especially those still in the shell. My local resident jays more often use my feeders as a grocery store, stuffing food into their throat pouch to hide in caches or eat in privacy later. #FeedtheBirds 1: Question of the week: What do Blue Jays like to … These species are the reason that many people choose to offer this type of peanut. Check out these interesting tidbits about blue jays as we get closer to winter! Look for this birds narrow necklace of black feathers across thethroat and around the head. Then they return to find the next heaviest nut, and … Furthermore, do Blue Jays remember where they hide their peanuts? Yes. Likewise, people ask, how do I get rid of starlings from my bird feeder? Blue Jays and other jay species in the US love peanuts in the shell. I can hear their calls from far away as they approach the garden. You won’t see them in your yard for months or years, but as soon as you offer peanuts in a shell, they can appear within days or even hours! Use starling proof bird … Test the Smarts of your Backyard Jays by Hiding Peanuts | Audubon April 13, 2016. Home Birding Attracting Birds Feeding Birds. Jays seem to sense whenever peanuts are put out within a 5-mile radius. • Jays will cache seeds and nuts to retrieve later, and make repeated trips to feeders to gather food and hide it in a safe spot. The other birds don't bother with the peanuts so I put bird seed out for them and the blue jays don't bother to eat that. There's even a Eurasian Jay which seems comparible. You really never know what species might stop by for a peanut! A western scrub-jay often came, but never when my husband and I were outside. One common problem with feeding peanuts in the shell is that squirrels are crazy about them. In one study Jays were seen making up to 1000 trips per day to gather food and hide it in a safe spot. They store food in locations up to four kilometers away from their source. In addition to Blue Jays, I’ve regularly seen Red-bellied Woodpeckers enjoy peanuts in the shell. Jays will cache seeds and nuts to retrieve later, and make repeated trips to feeders to gather food and hide it in a safe spot. So what kind of food do blue jays eat? Just so, which birds eat … With the exception of the fall, jays aren’t as piggy at feeders as most folks think. Not only do those species regularly use the feeder, I’ve seen almost all of the birds that frequent my bird feeders eat a peanut or two at some point. The jays always visit in a group of three. If you choose to feed any type of peanut, be prepared to deal with squirrels and other critters. The wing and tail feathers are bright blue with white andblack bands. People typically aren’t sure which birds prefer each type of peanut, and they want to be sure to offer the birds the type that will be most popular. Also, blue jays love peanuts. A pair of Blue Jays took notice and started stealing the peanuts after the squirrels hid them. ... Blue jay eating whole peanuts. Blue Jays are one of the smarter birds. I personally think that Shelled Peanuts are the better type of peanut to offer. • Blue jays mainly select undamaged nuts to bury; research has shown that only 10 percent of the nuts they cache are not viable seeds. RELATED: Why are cardinals and blue jays going bald? Peanuts in the shell and peanut pieces are especially attractive to woodpeckers, jays, nuthatches, titmice and chickadees. Once you establish your peanut feeding routine, spend some time watching the behavior of the jays. The one thing you should remember is that at no time will you not have Blue Jays. 1. Blue jays cache their food like a squirrel and hide it for another time. Blue Jays have a wide range in North America.It extends from southern Canada all throughout the central and eastern parts of the United States.In the south, their range extends to Florida and the northeastern part of Texas.. Their range is currently extending towards the northwest so they can sometimes be spotted on the Northern … Blue Jays have a special adaptation so they can grab a few big peanuts at one time. Mexican Jays are similar. Red-breasted Nuthatches are one of the species that I'm always hoping to find at my shelled peanut feeder. Peanuts are their favorite but they eat suet, cat kibble and sunflower seed too. Blue jays love peanuts. Why do blue jays hide peanuts? If you want to attract blue jays, invest in a platform feeder and a bag of whole peanuts. They sure can … Blue Jays are also crazy for peanuts. Jays don't eat on the job, either, flying away with the peanut in no particular pattern to at least three general locations. • Due to the birds' habit of burying acorns over a wide area, 11 species of oak trees have become dependent on blue jays for the dispersal of their acorns. They are grown in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama. ages ago jessi.bryan says: I was watching a blue jay in the local park taking peanuts away and burying them. • Blue jays will bury seeds … Lori Schubring is the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in Rib Mountain. whole peanuts are the absolute favorite seed of the jays. Many species will take advantage of the high protein content of peanuts especially during times of very cold temperatures. If you have any questions about backyard birds, email me at wbuwausau@gmail.com. As I settled in with a cup of coffee, birds began to arrive. • The rapid northward dispersal of oaks after the Ice Age may have resulted from the northern transport of acorns by jays. Rarely do they totally vacate an area. Every morning I used to put out peanuts in the shell on the porch railing. However you like to watch birds—in the woods, at your feeder, or on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s live streaming feeder cams – you will often see them flying with food in their beaks. • Jays will cache seeds and nuts to retrieve later, and make repeated trips to feeders to gather food and hide it in a safe spot. Blue Jays also eat oil sunflower, striped sunflower, shelled (shell free) peanuts, cracked corn, shell corn and suet. I read somewhere that Blue Jays do this with acorns in the wild. So you may want to invest in a peanut feeder. So, yes, Jays remember where they hide peanuts. When giving presentations on bird feeding, I’m often asked about which type of peanuts people should use in their feeders. Why do blue jays hide peanuts? Where do Blue Jays live? Blue Jays like black oil and striped sunflower seeds, elderberries, cherries, and corn. Jays will cache seeds and nuts to retrieve later, and make repeated trips to feeders to gather food and hide it in a safe spot. Speaking of grabbing and going . These blues are very smart. First of all—good luck. They carry food off for storage packed in their throat in what's called a gular pouch. Make sure that your feeder has enough room to allow Blue Jays to feed. Don’t forget the peanuts! Jays will cache seeds and nuts to retrieve later, and make repeated trips to feeders to gather food and hide it in a safe spot. . Battling Squirrels. Rob Ripma, a lifelong Indiana resident, has traveled and birded extensively throughout the Americas. Red-billed Woodpeckers like peanuts in the shell but you might also find them at a shelled peanut feeder. Blue jays will bury seeds up to 2 ½ miles from their original source. One year, two tame squirrels accepted peanuts from my hand. Photo by Deborah Bifulco via Birdshare. The peanuts are there for the blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata), and this morning about six raucous individuals took advantage of the free meal. In the western US, Steller's Jays are big fans of peanuts in the shell. Thus, they will go to areas that have similar habitat and compatible food supplies. • In one research study, 50 blue jays were observed selecting and caching 150,000 acorns over a period of 28 days. Blue jays mainly select undamaged nuts to bury; research has shown that only 10 percent of … Jays will cache seeds and nuts to retrieve later, and make repeated trips to feeders to gather food and hide it in a safe spot. In fact many birds eat nuts. Blue Jays are medium-sized ranging in length from 9 to 12 inches. Blue Jays and other jay species in the US love peanuts in the shell. Warbler Migration Tips for Every Type of Birder, How to Get Rid of Grackles and Blackbirds at Bird Feeders, How to Help Birds During Extremely Cold Weather, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Furthermore, keep the feeder stocked. It can be challenging to keep squirrels away so selecting a squirrel resistant or squirrel proof bird feeder is helpful. Yes, it’s true that squirrels love peanuts just as much as birds. You might be depressed at the thought of not, not having Blue Jays, but you should keep a few things in mind. These are the most popular peanuts and make up about 40% of the peanut crop in the U.S. Runner peanuts are great for roasting, but they are most commonly used for producing peanut butter. They always take every peanut. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Blue jays will bury seeds up to 2 ½ miles from their original source. You fill it and they will surely come! Roasted, no salt and no sugar, are the healthiest peanuts for feeding birds; avoid peanut hearts and raw peanuts. . The birds are not stockpiling in … • In one research study, blue jays were observed storing over 2,000 beech tree nuts in one month. • Blue jays seem to prefer to cache their seeds in open areas that have recently been disturbed by activities such as mowing or plowing. Here's a picture with one in it's mouth: ages ago YawningDog says: Nice shot -- … Jays of the genus Cyanocitta, Blue Jays and Steller's Jays are also good candidates because they are about the same size as Western Scrub Jays. They are in search of high energy, high protein foods that include peanuts in the shell, … The first wild bird who trusted me was a western scrub-jay, a California relative of the blue jays who live in the eastern half of the US. Spread peanut butter onto large pine cones, sprinkle bird seed over the cone • Blue jays will bury seeds up to 2 ½ miles from their original source. Other species will take these peanuts from time to time, but they are a bit hard to crack open for many of the smaller birds. Here is a quick guide to the birds that prefer each type of peanut. Blue jays mainly select undamaged nuts to bury; research has shown that only 10 percent of … Birds will even eat peanut butter! Check out more fascinating facts about blue jays. Some of the most common species that make use of my shelled peanut feeder are chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and woodpeckers. They can bury acorns, seeds, and nuts, and then remember where they are later on. But not every seed is recovered, and some of them grow into trees. Each bird cached a total of 3,000 acorns by selecting and hiding an average of 107 acorns per day. Once they have a heavy peanut in the beak, they fly off to consume it or hide it for a later snack. Grackles can be much piggier. Having a bird brain should be a compliment as we are still learning just how smart birds really are. Why are cardinals and blue jays going bald? So this experiment may work in much of North America, and into Europe. Since they’ve been shelled, all of the birds are able to eat it without too much trouble. These species are the reason that many people choose to offer this type of peanut.