Blue Jay

Blue Jay (Cyanura cristata), a North American jay, about twelve inches long, shades of blue above, wings and tail banded with black, and tipped with white; white beneath, tinged with blue on the throat and brown on the sides; a black crescent on the breast passing round to the back of the neck. These birds are omnivorous, preferring animal food, and repaying the farmer for the fruit and grain they eat by the quantities of caterpillars they devour. In mimicry the Blue Jay is scarcely surpassed by the mocking-bird (q.v.).