Hummingbird Flowers and Plants for Backyards

May 12, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on hummingbird flowers and plants. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world.  They are fascinating creatures that eat once every 10 to 15 minutes.  As a result, they visit approximately  1,000 to 2,000 flowers per day.  Hummingbird flowers provide nectar, which they absolutely love.  Are you wondering what flowers to plant to entice them?  I have a hummingbird flowers and plants list, check it out.  

 

 

hummingbird flowers and plants

 

 

 

Hummingbird Flowers and Plants:   

 

  • Yarrow
  • Larkspur
  • Bee Balm
  • Trumpet Vine
  • Day Lilies
  • Petunias
  • Butterfly Bush
  • Honeysuckle
  • Cardinal Flower
  • Red Hot Poker
  • Zinnia
  • Sunflowers
  • Impatiens
  • Foxglove
  • Coneflowers
  • Geraniums
  • Morning Glory
  • Hollyhocks
  • Coral Bells
  • Lantana
  • Rose of Sharon
  • Cardinal Flower
  • Iris

 

My list gives a good variety of hummingbird flowers to choose from.  Hummingbirds love red and yellow, so choose as many red and yellow flowers as you can.  The petunias in the window boxes on my deck never fail to bring hummingbirds.  So, tubular flowers are excellent choices.    

 

Hummingbird Flowers and Plants Provide Nectar:  

Also, these flowers provide nectar, which makes up 90% of a hummingbird’s diet.  Furthermore, nectar provides energy.  In additional to planting these flowers, hang a nectar feeder.  They are inexpensive and hummingbirds love them.  Red feeders with yellow ports are just what the hummingbird ordered.  To help hummingbirds find your feeders. tie a red ribbon close to the feeder.  

So, you can purchase nectar food packets at a local store.  However, I suggest that you save your money and use the ingredients that you have on hand.  I try to provide natural products to my backyard birds when possible.  As a result, use the natural nectar recipe below.  

 

 

 

hummingbird flower and plants

 

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe: 

  • 4 cups of water
  • 1 cup sugar 

 

  1.  Boil 4 cups of water. 
  2.  Add 1 cup of white granulated sugar.
  3.  Mix the sugar and water until the sugar is dissolved. 
  4.  Once the sugar is dissolved, continue to boil mixture for 2 additional minutes. 
  5.  Allow the mixture to cool thoroughly. 
  6.  Pour nectar into clean hummingbird feeders.

 

Attracting Hummingbirds to Feeders:    

Change the nectar every 3 – 5 days.  Be sure to clean your feeder too.  This will keep bacteria from invading your feeder.  See my post on how to clean bird feeders.

Set up territories in your yard, and place a feeder in each territory.  This will attract more hummingbirds to your backyard.  

Also, hummingbirds like to perch.  So, leave branches with open tips on them where hummingbirds can preen and rest.  They should be placed near nectar feeders or flowers that they love.  

Last, hummingbirds prefer to bath by flying through water mist.  Place a water mister in your birdbath.  If you can place it near the nectar feeder or among your flowers the hummingbirds will love you for it.    

I hope that you will plant a few hummingbird flowers and plants either in your garden, shrubbery bed or in containers.  Your hummingbirds will love you for them.  You may also like Hummingbirds.  

 

 

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Attracting the Pileated Woodpecker

March 1, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing tips backyard birding tips on Attracting the Pileated Woodpecker. The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest member of the woodpecker family.  It’s beautiful red crest comes from the Latin word Pileatus, which means capped.  

The Pileated Woodpeckers are huge birds, and absolutely beautiful.  Because they birds are so large, having large, standing trees is a must if you want to attract them to your backyard.  If you don’t have large trees on your property, having woods nearby or on an adjoining property will do.  Pileated Woodpeckers love to munch on ants, beetles, wild fruits and nuts.  They are known to pull bark off trees to feast on ants.  Furthermore, they need large trees to bore large holes for nests.  The female pileated woodpeckers selects her mate based on the best nest sight for her babies. If it’s not a large tree with nice big holes, he can forget it.  

 

 

attracting the pileated woodpecker

 

 

Although, the Pileated Woodpecker loves insects and wild fruit, they also love suet.  Yep, suet is the key to attracting the Pileated Woodpecker to your backyard. I’ve used both commercial and homemade suet cakes in my attempt to lure this big guy.  He will visit the feeder when it contains the commercial suet, but I see him 4 – 5 times a day when I offer my homemade suet. These pictures are of my big boy eating my homemade suet cake.  The female hasn’t visited so far.  You can tell the difference between the male and female by the stripes on their cheeks.  The male has a red stripe and the female black. 

 

Attracting the Pileated Woodpecker:  

 

Here’s a few of my homemade suet recipes:  

Crunchy Apple Raisin Suet Cake Recipe

Carrot Raisin Suet Cake Recipe

 

 

attracting the pileated woodpecker

 

 

 

Offering suet during the winter months is a great way to give our feathered friends energy and warmth. It will help them survive the cold winter months.  

Also, if your goal is attracting the pileated woodpecker to your backyard, you will need a pileated woodpecker suet cage.  If one is unavailable another large long tail suet cage will work. A long tail prop is needed so the woodpecker’s tail feathers can rest while they’re hanging on the cage.  

Whip up a batch of my homemade suet cakes, and you will have this beautiful creature devouring them in not time.  Stay tuned for additional posts on homemade suet cake recipes.

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Kids Bird Identification Tips

February 7, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing kids bird identification tips .  Getting children involved in nature and encouraging them to take care of what God and nature has left us with is important.

So, birdwatching is becoming one of the fastest growing hobbies in the country.  There are approximately 50 million Americans who are birding, another name for bird watching.  It’s funny, people spend more time bird watching than gardening in Canada.  Many people considered bird watching to be a hobby of retirees.  Not anymore, and birders are becoming younger and younger.

I’ve been bird watching for years.  My brother is a bird watcher.  One day while I was in the garden, he visited and we started discussing the various birds in my yard.  I was hooked, and I’ve been birding ever since.  Also, I have started my grandchildren watching and feeding the birds.  It’s a great activity to do on a cold, snowy day.  Furthermore, bird watching is also a great activity in the spring and fall while birds are migrating into the area or from the area.

To help children identify various birds, I created a bird watching check list for kids.  The pictures on the checklist are actual pictures that I have taken of birds in my backyard.  This bird list identifier will help kids study and see actual pictures of the backyard birds.  As a result, they will know what to look for or be able to identify it when they see it.  Each picture has a check box, so kids can check off each bird that they have seen. I suggest printing it in color if possible, and hanging it in an area where they can study and review it.

 

Kids Bird Identification Tips:

 

 

 

I live in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, outside Washington, DC in Zone6B; however, most of the birds are common in many backyards. Blue Jays, Mallards (can be found in most parks or around ponds), Cardinals, Grackles  Woodpeckers and the other birds can be found in most backyards too.  Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Cat Birds are abundant in the spring.

In addition to the Bird Watching Check List, I created individual information fact sheets for birds listed on the Identification Check List.  It gives children facts about each bird. For example, the Blue Jay is on the check sheet.  The bird fact sheets gives kids more information about the bird they will be looking for.  You can also check out my post on How to Attract Blue Jays. 

 

bird watching for kids

 

bird watching for kids

 

Cardinals are another backyard bird that most people can find in their backyard.  They are the state bird for 7 of our states. Check out my post on How to Attract Cardinals.  

 

bird watching journal for kids

 

 

Additionally, I created a Bird Watching Journal Page where kids can document what they observed with the birds.  Print the page so the children can document every bird that they see.  This can include birds on the Bird Watching Check List or other birds that are spotted and not listed. Be sure to check out my category of articles on How to Attract Backyard Birds. 

I hope you start your child bird watching.  You may enjoy it too.  You can print the Bird Watching Check List, Bird Facts and Journal Page here.

You may also like Parenting Exchange – Bird Watching Helps Children Become Wise.  

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Beef Stew Lard Suet Cakes

January 23, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Homemade lard suet cakes is the topic of the day.  My backyard birds devour my DIY lard suet cakes within days.  So, rather than continually spend money on commercial suet cakes, I started making my own. Whether there are fights over the food in your home or in your backyard, you know the food is good. So, I suggest that you start making homemade suet cakes for your backyard birds.  Especially, if you want to keep them coming back to your feeders.

 

 

lard suet cakes

 

 

Furthermore, Suet cakes are a great source of heat and energy for birds in the winter.  And, you can get creative and create your own recipes.   I have created tons of recipes for my backyard birds, and it was fun making them.  Especially, with my grandkids. Beef stew is the flavor of the day.  Lets get started.

 

 

Beef Stew Lard Suet Cakes:

  • 1 cup chopped boiled potatoes (Be sure to remove the skin).
  • 1 cup grated raw carrots (Raw carrots are good for the birds eyes).
  • 2 cups of black oil sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup of oats (I forgot to include them in the picture below).
  • 1 cup beef lard  (I used the fat from my ground beef)
  • 1/2 cup regular lard if needed
  • containers to mold your mixture (container should be at least 5 x 5 so it will fit into a suet cage)

Note:  This recipe makes 2 suet cakes.

 

 

Lard Suet Cakes

 

 

  • Step 1 – Melt 1 cup of lard in a pot, and than allow it to harden.
  • Step 2 – Melt melt the lard a second time and allow it to harden again.  You can add more lard here if you don’t think you have enough for your mixture.
  • Step 3 – Melt the lard again.
  • Next, mix your birdseed, oats, potatoes, and carrots thoroughly while the lard is melting.  Once the ingredients are mixed well, pour the melted lard over the mixture. Stir the mixture so it is covered well with the lard.  (You can save a little lard to pour over the mixture once it is packed in the containers).
  • Pack the mixture into your containers.  ( I spray my containers with Olive Oil before I add the mixture to ensure an easy removal).
  • Pour the last of the melted lard over the mixture in the packed containers.
  • Freeze or place your containers in your refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
  • Last, remove the suet cakes from your containers and store in a freezer bag in the freezer or refrigerator until you need them.  (I mark my bags with the type of suet cake that I’m storing.  For example, Beef Stew).

 

 

Note:  I am an Amazon Affiliate.  If you make a purchase, I may receive a small fee; however, there will be no additional cost to you.

 

 


 

 

Some of the birds that visit my suet cake feeders are:

  • Woodpeckers
  • Mockingbirds
  • Northern Flickers
  • Carolina Wrens
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • European Starlings
  • Downy Woodpeckers
  • Hairy Woodpeckers
  • Pileated Woodpeckers
  • Black-capped Chickadees
  • House Finches
  • Sparrows

 

 

lard suet cakes

 

 

Finally, check out my carrot raisin suet cake recipe before you leave.  It’s another favorite of my backyard birds.  You may also like Understanding Suet.

 

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Suet Cake Recipe for Crunchy Apple Raisin Suet

January 10, 2021 by Leave a Comment

My Crunchy apple raisin suet cake recipe is the topic today. Today, My backyard birds devour suet cakes, so I started making my own.  There are lots of fights at the feeders over this peanut butter suet cake recipe.  So, if you are a backyard bird watcher and want to keep birds at your feeders, make this crunchy treat for your feather friends.

Furthermore, Suet cakes are a great source of heat and energy for birds.  Especially, during the winter months when insects and berries are scarce. I have purchased commercial suet cakes, but the birds seem to prefer my homemade suet cakes.  If I have both a DIY suet cake and a commercial suet cake out at the same time, the birds prefer mine.  So, I have created tons of recipes for them. Crunchy apple raisin is the flavor of the day.

 

 

suet cake recipes

 

Crunchy Apple Raisin Suet Cakes:

  • 1 cup chopped raisins
  • 1 cup chopped dried apples
  • 2 cups of quality bird seed ( I use Royal Wing Birdwatchers Banquet from Tractor Supply)
  • 1 cup of oats
  • 1 cup lard
  • 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
  • containers to mold your mixture (container should be at least 5 x 5 so it will fit into a suet cage)

 

 

lard suet cake recipes

 

 

  • Melt 1 cup of lard in a pot, and than allow it to harden.
  • Melt melt the lard a second time and allow it to harden again.  You can add more lard here if you don’t think you have enough for your mixture.
  • Melt the lard again, and add the cup of crunchy peanut butter.
  • Next, mix your dry ingredients thoroughly, and than add your melted lard and peanut butter to your dry ingredients. Stir the mixture well.
  • Pack the mixture into your containers.  ( I spray my containers with Olive Oil to ensure an easy removal.
  • Freeze or place your container in your refrigerator for several hours.
  • Last, remove the suet cakes from your containers and store in a freezer bag in the freezer or refrigerator until you need them.  (I mark my bags with the type of suet cake that I’m storing.  For example, Crunchy Apple Raisin).

 

 

 


 

 

Some of the birds that visit my suet feeders are:

  • Woodpeckers
  • Mockingbirds
  • Northern Flickers
  • Carolina Wrens
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • European Starlings
  • Downy Woodpeckers
  • Hairy Woodpeckers
  • Pileated Woodpeckers
  • Black-capped Chickadees

 

 

lard suet cake recipe

 

 

 

Finally, check out my carrot raisin suet cake recipe before you leave.  It’s another favorite of my backyard birds. You may also like All About Bird Foods.

 

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Homemade Suet Cake Recipe – Carrot Raisin

January 6, 2021 by Leave a Comment

My homemade suet cake recipe today is for carrot raisin suet. My backyard birding tips love this specials treat.  I have purchased commercial suet cakes, but my backyard birds prefer and devour every DIY suet cake that I make.  As a result, I have developed homemade suet cake recipes for them. So, my recipes have been tested by my backyard birds.  Trust me, they haven’t left a suet cake in tact yet.

I prefer making my own homemade suet cake recipes because I know exactly what’s in them.  I can select and control the ingredients that I use.  My backyard birds seem to like it that way too.  If you are an experienced backyard bird watcher or a new newbie bird watcher, having your feeders full is the way to bring birds to your backyard, and keep them coming back.

 

 

birdseed suet cake recipe

 

Rather than toss any carrots that are getting old, I grate them with an old cheese grater and use them in my suet cakes.  DON’T cook them.  Raw carrots are best for backyard birds.  Carrots are good for our eyes, but they are good for our backyard bird’s eye sight too.  You can shred them and than freeze or store them in your refrigerator until you get ready to use them.  I toss mine into a freeze bag and put them in one of my refrigerator drawers.  I love raisins, so I always have a box on hand.

 

Homemade Carrot Raisin Suet Cake Recipe:

  • 1 Cup of Shredded Carrots
  • 1 Cup Raisins (Soak the raisins to soften them)
  • 2 Cups of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
  • 1 Cup of Oats
  • 1 Cup melted Lard or rendered fat from the grocery store

Note:  This recipe will make 2 suet cakes.  You can double the recipe if you want to make more.  I only make 2 suet cakes for each of my recipes so I can have a variety on hand.

 

 

homemade suet cakes

 

 

  • Slowly melt 1 cup of lard in a pan.  I use lard versus Crisco; however, I know some birders who have used Crisco for their suet recipes. Furthermore, I use dry ingredient cups for my ingredients.  I know that I will end up with 2 suet cakes using this method.  You can always add more of any of the ingredients if needed.  Once the lard is melted.  Remove it from the heat, and allow it to harden.
  • Reheat the lard in the pan a second time once it has turned into a harden state.
  • Thoroughly mix your ingredients in a large bowl.  You will be adding the melted lard to the mixture.  If you want to add more of the ingredients after you add the melted lard, feel free. Mix the ingredients thoroughly before you put the mixture into the containers you will be using as your molds.
  • I use square plastic containers from the Dollar Tree or suet cake containers that I saved from commercial cakes.  You can purchase 2 containers for a $1.00 at your local Dollar Tree.  Also, sandwich cases from Big Lots will work too.  Add the mixture to your containers, and pack the mixture firmly into your containers.  Make sure your cakes are about an 1 inch thick all the way around.

 

 

DIY suet cakes

 

  • Take a knife and go around the outside of your cakes.  You want to leave a small space between the suet cake and your container.  Put them in your freezer or refrigerator until solid.
  • Once they are solid, remove them from the containers and place them in a freezer bag.  You can keep them in the freezer or refrigerator until you’re ready to use them. Mark your bag on the type of suet cakes you are storing.  For example, Carrot Raisin.

 

 

home made suet cake recipe

 

 

I hope that you will make lots of suet cakes for your backyard birds.  They provide nutrients and help keep our feathered friends warm during the winter months.  They will thank you by returning again and again.  Note:  I only use these cakes during cold weather.  You may also like:  All About Bird Foods 

 

 

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Facts About Cooper’s Hawks

December 10, 2020 by 2 Comments

Today, I’m sharing backyard bird tips on facts about Cooper’s Hawks.  I have had a immature Cooper’s Hawk visit for the past 2 years.  They are such fascinating creatures to watch, and the juveniles are so beautiful. But, I must say I was startled when I first one.  My reaction was, what in the hell is that.  I was used to small beautiful songs and the largest birds being the Blue Jay and Robin.  I observed it for a few minutes and noticed its curved bill, and that was the giveaway that my visitor was a hawk.  But, what kind of hawk I wondered.  After researching, I found out that it was a Cooper’s Hawk.

Cooper’s Hawk adults have a slate gray or brown gray back.  Their tails have several black bands with a white band.  Furthermore, they have a yellow spot on their bill and dark red eyes.  The female is larger than the male. Interestingly, juveniles have brown backs, brown streaks on the chest and bright yellow eyes.  Lets learn more!

 

Facts about Cooper’s Hawks:

 

  • The Cooper’s Hawk was known as the “chicken hawk.”
  • The Cooper’s Hawk is plentiful in North America. It is actually a bird-eating raptor.
  • Cooper’s Hawks usually mate for life.
  • Males feed the female up to a month before she begins laying eggs.
  • The male usually chooses the building site for the nest.

 

 

facts about cooper's hawks

 

 

 

  • The female builds the nest in either pines, oaks, Douglas-firs, beeches, spruces, and other deciduous or coniferous tree.  The nest are usually built 25 – 50′ above the ground.
  • Cooper’s Hawks like to build their nest on pre-existing bird’s nest or a squirrel’s nest.
  • Cooper’s Hawks return to the same nesting area; however, they build a new nest each year.
  • Female Cooper’s Hawk lays between 3 – 5 pale bluish-white eggs per breeding season.  They lay an egg every other day, and raise one brood per year.

 

 

facts about the Cooper's Hawk

 

 

 

 

facts about cooper's hawks

 

 

  • Females incubate the eggs for about 35-36 days.
  • The male brings food to the female and incubates the eggs while she eats.
  • The female feeds her brood for the first two weeks after the eggs hatch.  Males will bring food, but they do not feed the nestlings. The female takes the food from the male and feeds her brood.
  • The nestlings will leave the nest 28 to 32 days after hatching, but will return to the nest for some time after leaving.  They will become independent within a few months.

 

I hope you enjoyed my facts about Cooper’s Hawks.  Most importantly, I hope that you will be lucky, and have a juvenile visit you too.  You may also like Cooper’s Hawk birds.

 

 

 

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Facts About Northern Cardinals

December 6, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing backyard bird tips on facts about Northern Cardinals.  Fortunately, my backyard is filled with these beauties year round.  That could be because the Northern Cardinal is the state bird for West Virginia.  These red birds are also known as visitors from heaven.  Because they are so abundant in my backyard, this does my heart good.  When I see them, I wonder if it’s my mom, dad or one of my grandparents.

 

 

facts about northern cardinal

 

 

 

Facts about Northern Cardinals:

 

  • The Northern Cardinal is most famous species here in the United States.  However, there is the Desert Cardinal and the Vermillion Cardinal.
  • Cardinals are named after Catholic Bishops, the red zucchetto.
  • The Northern Cardinal just happens to be one of the most common state birds.  As a matter of fact, the stunningly red cardinal is the official bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia
  • Only the males sport the bright red plumage.  So the brighter the better, because female cardinals love the red plumage.
  • Cardinals nest in backyards, shrubbery, parks, and woodlots.
  • They are related to the Tanagers, Grosbeaks, Buntings, and Dickcissel.
  • Cardinals are also called redbirds.

 

 

facts about northern cardinals

 

 

 

  • Northern Cardinals do not migrate.
  • Male Cardinals are aggressive when defending their nest.  As a result, they will charge intruding birds and, sometimes mistakenly think their reflection in windows are an intruder.
  • Northern cardinals, like flamingoes, use food like dogwood berries and grapes to keep their feathers red.  Luckily, I have a dogwood tree that they frequent regularly.  If you see a male that looks dull, he’s not finding enough berries to keep his plumage bright red.  (Do him a favor, plant a berry bush or dogwood tree).
  • Males feed females when they are courting.
  • Cardinals mate for life.
  • Breeding season can last from March – September.
  • The female usually builds their nest in dense bushes.
  • Female cardinals usually build the nest alone.  She uses grass, bark, twigs, weeds, and leaves, rootlets to make an open cup shaped nest.  She lines it with grass or hair.

 

 

facts about northern cardinals

 

 

 

  • Females lay between 3 – 5 eggs.  The eggs are are a whitish to pale bluish or greenish white color.
  • Female cardinals are brown, yellow and gray.
  • Females incubate the eggs for 12-13 days.
  • Cardinals have 2 – 3 broods per year.
  • The male cardinal will feed the nestlings while the female attempts the next brood.
  • Fledglings will leave the nest 9 – 11 days after hatching.
  • Parents will teach the fledglings how to find food and take care of themselves.  This responsibility usually fall to the male.  The female heads off to build another nest.
  • Fledglings will grow feathers in the fall.  However, it will take male fledglings 12 months to grow bright red feathers.

I hope that you enjoyed my facts on the Northern Cardinal.  If you want to attract them to your backyard check out my post on How to Attract Northern Cardinals. 

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Facts About Baby Blue Jays

November 17, 2020 by 2 Comments

Today, I’m sharing backyard bird tips on baby blue jays.  I have a flock of beautiful blue jays that come to my feeders.  If my feeders are empty, they let me know with their Call, Call, Call sound.  I offer them whole shelled peanuts, peanut chips and black oil sunflower seeds.  The peanuts is their food of choice for blue jays.

It’s hard to distinguish the male blue jay from the female, they look identical.  They only way to truly figure out the identity is to watch the nest.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been that lucky.  My blue jays nest away from my house so using a cam to record their activities or physically watch them is not an option.  However, I have 6 that visit regularly.  When one checks out the feeder and it’s filled, they call to the others in their flock.  They descent on the feeder in minutes.  Blue jays mate for life.  As a result, I’m assuming they’re couples.

baby blue birds

 

Facts about Baby Blue Jays

 

  • Blue jays lay 2 – 7 eggs in their clutch.  However, the usual clutch is 4 or 5 eggs.  The eggs are blue or brown with speckles.  Blue Jays breed from March to July, and they have one brood a year. Females incubate the eggs while the male retrieves food.  The male will continue to retrieve food 8 – 12 days after the eggs have hatched for both mom and babies.
  • Once the babies are able to leave the nest, the brood will leave together.  This takes place when the babies are around 17 – 21 days old.  Mom will encourage them to leave the nest. Babies who have recently left the nest are called fledglings.  The Blue Jay fledglings leave the nest before they can fly. Once the babies leave the nest, it doesn’t return.

 

blue jay babies

 

 

 

  • Are you wondering how they get out of the nest if they can’t fly?  They flop out of the nest and land below it.  Some move to nearby branches to lower themselves to the ground.  On the second or third day, they may move about 50  – 75 feet away from the nest.  During this time they are growing and learning.  Furthermore, the parents are nearby to protect the babies from predators and to feed them until they learn to fly and fend for themselves.  So, if you see a baby bird leave it unless it’s hurt.  Mom and dad are watching.
  • A baby blue jay will learn everything it needs to survive while it is a fledgling.  This usually take about 5 days.  It will grow the necessary feathers to help them fly, they will learn how to feed themselves and they will do it all with mom and dad nearby.
  • Mom will lead blue jay babies to a safe place at night to ensure they are out of the purview of predators.  This is usually under a bush, in a bush or in grass.  Mom and dad are always nearby.
  • Unfortunately, cats are the biggest threat to baby blue jays.  However, the parents will attack cats, humans or any other thing they believe are a threat to their young.

 

baby blue jays

 

  • Baby Blue Jays will stay around the nest and mom for a few months before truly venturing off on their own.  The following year, they will find their mate for life and produce a brood of their own.

 

I hope your found our baby blue jay facts insightful.  Be sure to check on my Unique Facts about Blue Jays and Blue Jay Facts for Kids.  

 

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Unique Facts About Blue Jays

November 13, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing backyard bird tips on facts about Blue Jays.  Blue Jays can be found in urban as well as suburban areas.  Most people are familiar with Blue Jays.  They are rather large birds and can be easily identified by their beautiful blue, white and black feathers.  Their call is distinctive as well.  Some find Blue Jays to be aggressive.  However, I’ve seen Robins double team a Blue Jay and not back down.  Blue Jays are large compared to other birds.  They are smaller than a crow, but larger than Robins.

 

facts about blue jays

 

 

Facts About Blue Jays

  • Females and males look a lot like. They only way to distinguish one from the other is to observe their behavior.  For example, who courts who or which Jay incubates the eggs etc.
  • Jays prefer platform and hopper feeders.
  • Resident jays associate in flocks.  ( I have 6 that come to my feeders).
  • Jays drink from bird baths.
  • Blue Jays feathers are actually brown.  The light causes humans to see blue.
  • Related to crows.
  • Jays are notorious for hiding acorns in the ground and not retrieving them.  Oak trees are sprouting up across America.
  • Known for being highly intelligent.
  • Territorial around feeders and their nests.  They will chase away birds, squirrels and other predators.
  • Females incubate eggs for 17 – 21 days.
  • Males retrieve food for the female during incubation of the eggs.  Additionally, 8 – 12 days after eggs hatch they retrieve food for both mom and babies.
  • Blue Jays mate between April and July.
  • Blue Jays mate for life.
  • Clutch size is 2 – 7 eggs.
  • Blue Jay eggs are blue or light brown with speckles.
  • They have 1 brood a year.
  • Blue Jays will steal and eat other bird’s eggs.  It’s rare, but it does happen.
  • Jays mimic hawks to alert their flock of potential danger if one is around.
  • The oldest Blue Jay was 26 years and 11 months.  Sadly, it got caught in fishing gear was unable to untangle itself.
  • Lifespan is 7 years.

 

 

facts about blue jays

 

Foods Blue Jays Love

  • Peanuts
  • Acorn
  • Suet
  • Cracked Corn
  • Peanut Hearts
  • Fruit
  • Mealworms

 

 

facts about blue jays

 

 

I feed my Blue Jays unsalted roasted peanuts; and they devour them. Furthermore, my neighbor has an Oak tree.  Blue Jays love acorns as much as they love peanuts.  I have six Jays that visitor my feeder regularly.  One comes to check out the feeder.  It’s filled with treats, he calls to the flock and descend on the feeder until it’s empty.  If the peanut feeder is empty, they let me know with their loud, distinct call.

 


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I hope you enjoy my facts about Blue Jays.  Most importantly, I hope that you will attract them to your backyard and watch their interactions.  Nature is amazing.

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