Cyanocitta cristata
Blue Jays are medium-sized jays with bright blue upperparts, pale gray underparts, with distinctive head crests and have necks surrounded by a black necklace. They have black barred wings and their tails have white patches. Sexes are similar.
I spent years being Blue Jay deprived, so I am really relishing seeing, hearing, and photographing them now. Having Blue Jays in my viewfinder is truly a joy!
When I had this young Blue Jay in my viewfinder, I could clearly see that it was immature. The pin feathers and new growth told me everything I needed to know.
I had a blast taking these Blue Jay images at Steve Creek's home in Arkansas. Soon after the bluebirds fledged, the jays felt safe to come into the feeders.
There are times when I take a photo, upload it to my computer, open it to view it on my screen, and my breath gets taken away. This Blue Jay portrait did that.
This morning, I am sharing young and adult Blue Jay photos that I took from my dear friend Steve Creek's deck while I was staying with him in Arkansas.
Given how odd spring has been for me personally, it seemed appropriate for me to photograph a young Blue Jay hanging upside down on the first day of summer.
For some people, a Blue Jay portrait might be a common image to capture, but for me, it's not common at all. This particular one was taken in Arkansas, not Utah.
My birding by ear affliction isn't that I can't hear birds; it is that I can't not hear them. Even when I am on the phone with my friends.