20+ Beautiful Blue Jay Photos That Will Inspire You to Invest in a Backyard Feeder
Updated: Apr. 26, 2022
We challenged you to capture these brilliantly coloured birds on camera, and you delivered! Check out this gorgeous gallery of winged wonders.
Pictures of Blue Jays Across Canada
Talented wildlife photographer Gail Kirkelund shared this shot of a determined-looking blue jay in flight. As Gail notes, he looks as though he’s on a mission!
Two in Blue
Julie Dier of Perth Road Village, Ontario, caught this adorable double-act snacking on the peanuts she left out in a bowl on her deck.
Discover the best bird-watching spot in every province.
Splish, Splash…
…Someone was taking a bath! Leslie M. of Winnipeg snapped this blue jay in the middle of his daily ablutions.
Looking Sharp
This beautiful blue jay is most definitely ready for his close-up. The degree of detail in Tracy Vandermeulen’s photo is nothing short of striking—check out the patterns in that plumage!
Find out what it’s like photographing pileated woodpeckers in the wild.
This Place Has Gone to the Birds!
We’re not sure what’s cuter: Wilf McQuinn’s beautiful log-cabin bird feeder, or the three jays squabbling over seeds?
A Tisket, a Tasket…
…A blue jay in a basket? Cindy Mulvihill of Low, Quebec, spotted this little sweetie enjoying a makeshift perch.
Check out more beautiful Canadian birds captured on camera.
Winter Wonderland
When the world is blanketed in a layer of hoar frost, the blue of a jay’s plumage really seems to pop, doesn’t it? Sharon Peters of Three Hills, Alberta, snapped this pretty pair on a crisp winter morning.
Here, photographer John McCracken shares what it’s like photographing wildlife in the dead of winter.
Shake a Tail Feather
“I took many clicks to capture this blue jay in flight and displaying its beautiful feathers,” writes Isabelle Marozzo of Norland, Ontario. Your persistence paid off, Isabelle—the sharp focus in this action shot is nothing short of breathtaking!
Seconds, Please!
George Vanderberg of Lethbridge, Alberta figures there’s one thing on the mind of this backyard visitor: “Hey, did you know you’re just about out of peanuts?”
Simply Irresistable
“‘I don’t like peanuts,” said no blue jay ever!” writes photographer Cathy Gauthier. “If you put out peanuts, the blue jays will magically appear here in Magnetawan, Ontario.”
The Fledgling Flies the Nest
It’s odd to see a blue jay before it develops its characteristic colouring, but that’s exactly what Julie Sabo snapped from her front window in Edmonton.
“A few minutes earlier, I’d inadvertently disturbed a nest hidden in the hedge that runs beside our front yard. Momma blue jay swooped down and pecked my 90 year old Mom on the top of her head. The babies took this opportunity to flee the nest and hung around our front yard for quite some time with momma cautiously watching on.”
Don’t miss these great Canadian bird stories from the pages of Our Canada.
Model Behaviour
Between the pretty perch and beautiful back-lighting, you’d almost think this blue jay staged his own photo opp! Thanks to Gwen Card of Belmont, Ontario, for sharing this fantastic shot.
Feeding Frenzy
If a flock of crows is called a murder, and a group of geese is a gaggle, what should we call a feeding frenzy of blue jays? We’ll let you noodle that over while admiring Heather McIlravey’s cute pic.
Make sure you never feed this to birds.
A Perfect Pairing
Blue jay? Meet blue spruce! Thanks to Shelley Marshall of Peterborough, Ontario, for sharing this serene winter scene.
Here are more photos that celebrate the beauty of the Canadian winter.
Jumping Jay Flash
Photographer Julie Dier is a quick draw with her camera, capturing this magic moment where a prancing jay seems to defy gravity. Fantastic shot!
Check out more incredible candid photography from across Canada.
Feathers and Foliage
“Sitting pretty in the fall colours of our Mountain Ash tree,” writes photographer George Vanderberg. The blue feathers against the reds and oranges of the autumn foliage make for a truly striking shot. Thanks for sharing, George!
Check out Nova Scotia’s best-kept bird-watching secret.
Dinner to Go
Framed against a backdrop of birch bark, this blue jay is scouting for somewhere he can dine in peace and quiet! You’ll find more of Linda Derkacz’s incredible images in this gallery of “in the backyard” photography.
Call of the Wild
Laura McArthur’s picture of a blue jay is so crisp, you can almost hear its signature call—the soundtrack of backyards across Canada each winter.
Read about the efforts to save Canada’s mountain bluebird.
In Between Meals
Photographer Paul O’Toole writes, “A Blue Jay takes a quick break from its almost constant food foraging routine.”
Discover why the Okanagan Valley is one of Canada’s best birdwatching destinations.
Bye Bye, Birdie!
You can bet Mary Hindle’s hilarious shot of a fierce feathered showdown is destined for a future “Caption Corner” in the pages of our magazine! Get your funny captions primed and ready for our Facebook callout.
Magnum’s Opus
This handsome fellow has become such a regular at Jim Stickel’s place, he’s even been given a name: Magnum!
If you enjoyed these pictures of blue jays, don’t miss this gorgeous gallery of birds across Canada.
