I saw several blue jays foraging on the ground at the Planting Fields Arboretum in New York. Unfortunately, they flew away as soon as I approached them, so I don’t have any close-up photos of them. The blue jay is native to eastern North America. It can be found from southern Canada and throughout the eastern and central United States south to Florida and northeastern Texas. It occupies a variety of habitats within its large range, from the pine woods of Florida to the spruce-fir forests of northern Ontario. It prefers mixed woodlands with oaks and beeches. Its coloration is predominantly blue. The black bridle across the face, nape, and throat varies extensively and may help Blue Jays recognize one another. There is a pronounced crest on the head, a crown of feathers, which may be raised or lowered according to the bird's mood. When excited or aggressive, the crest will be fully raised. When frightened, the crest bristles outwards, brushlike. When the bird is feeding among other jays or resting, the crest is flattened on the head. Blue jays are omnivorous. They glean insects and take nuts and seeds in trees, shrubs, and on the ground; they also eat grains. They store food in caches to eat later. The blue jay is a noisy, bold, and aggressive passerine. They can make a large variety of sounds and they may learn to mimic human speech or mimic the calls of hawks. They will scream if they see a predator within its territory or sound an alarm call when hawks or other dangers are near. Other jays and bird species can hide themselves away accordingly. Jays are very territorial birds, and they will chase others from a feeder. Additionally, the blue jay may raid other birds' nests, stealing eggs, chicks, and nests. However, this may not be as common as is typically thought. Blue jays, like other corvids, are highly curious and are considered intelligent birds. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems, and have tight family bonds. They often mate for life. The blue jay was adopted as the team symbol or official mascot for several sports teams and schools such as Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball, Johns Hopkins University, Elmhurst University, and Creighton University.
我在紐約州的 Planting Fields 植物園看到好幾隻冠藍鴉在地上覓食，可惜我一走近它們，它們便飛走了，所以沒有它們的近照。冠藍鴉原產於北美東部。從加拿大南部以及美國東部和中部以南到佛羅裡達州和德克薩斯州東北部都可看到它們。它們生活在多種不同類型的棲息地，從佛羅裡達州的松樹林到安大略省北部的雲冷杉林。它們偏愛橡樹和山毛櫸的混合林。它的顏色主要是藍色。臉部、後頸部和喉嚨上的黑色繫帶變化很大，可能有助於藍鳥相互識別。它的頭上有一個明顯的頂冠，可以根據鳥的心情升或降。當興奮或受攻擊時，頂冠會高高立起。當受到驚嚇時，冠毛會如毛刷一般四面張開。而當它們與其他北美洲松鴉一起覓食或休息時，頂冠是平鋪在頭頂上。冠藍鴉是雜食性的，它們在樹木、灌木叢和地面上撿拾昆蟲、堅果和種子，它們也吃穀物。它們將食物儲存在隱藏處以供以後食用。冠藍鴉是一種吵鬧、大膽且具攻擊性的雀形目鳥類。它們可以發出很多種不同的聲音，能模仿人類的說話聲或模仿鷹的叫聲。當它們發現捕食者入侵自己的領區時就會尖厲的鳴叫，或者當鷹或其他危險靠近時發出警報，其他松鴉和鳥類可尋找藏身之處。冠藍鴉是領地觀念很強的鳥類，它們會趕走餵食器附近的其他鳥。冠藍鴉也會侵占其他鳥類的巢，竊取其他鳥類的卵、幼雛和巢。不過這種情況實際上並不像人們所想的那麼普遍。像其他的鴉科一樣，冠藍鴉是非常好奇、聰慧的一種鳥。冠藍鴉以其聰明才智和複雜的社會體系而聞名，並且有著緊密的家庭關係。它們通常終生交配。冠藍鴉被多個運動隊伍和學校採用作為球隊標誌或官方吉祥物，例如多倫多冠藍鴉隊美國職棒大聯盟、約翰霍普金斯大學、埃爾姆赫斯特大學和克賴頓大學。
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Notes 筆記
- The blue jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to eastern North America. It can be found from southern Canada and throughout the eastern and central United States south to Florida and northeastern Texas.
- Its coloration is predominantly blue, with a white chest and underparts, and a blue crest; it has a black, U-shaped collar around its neck and a black border behind the crest. The black bridle across the face, nape, and throat varies extensively and may help Blue Jays recognize one another. The pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The blue color is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs. There is a pronounced crest on the head, a crown of feathers, which may be raised or lowered according to the bird's mood. When excited or aggressive, the crest will be fully raised. When frightened, the crest bristles outwards, brushlike. When the bird is feeding among other jays or resting, the crest is flattened on the head.
- The blue jay occupies a variety of habitats within its large range, from the pine woods of Florida to the spruce-fir forests of northern Ontario. It is less abundant in denser forests, preferring mixed woodlands with oaks and beeches. It has expertly adapted to human activity, occurring in parks and residential areas.
- Blue jays are omnivorous, but the Audubon Society estimates that 75% of their diet is vegetable matter. They glean insects and take nuts and seeds in trees, shrubs, and on the ground; they also eat grains. They store food in caches to eat later.
- The blue jay is a noisy, bold, and aggressive passerine. Blue jays can make a large variety of sounds, and individuals may vary perceptible in their calling style. Like other corvids, they may learn to mimic human speech. It also frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk. These calls may provide information to other jays that a hawk is around, or may be used to deceive other species into believing a hawk is present. The blue jay can be beneficial to other bird species, as it may chase predatory birds, such as hawks and owls, and will scream if it sees a predator within its territory. It has also been known to sound an alarm call when hawks or other dangers are near, and smaller birds often recognize this call and hide themselves away accordingly.
- Jays are very territorial birds, and they will chase others from a feeder for an easier meal. Additionally, the blue jay may raid other birds' nests, stealing eggs, chicks, and nests. However, this may not be as common as is typically thought, as only 1% of food matter in one study was bird material. Despite this, other passerines may still mob jays who come within their breeding territories.
- It is a moderately slow flier which makes it easy prey for hawks and owls when it flies in open areas.
- Blue jays, like other corvids, are highly curious and are considered intelligent birds. Young individuals playfully snatch brightly coloured or reflective objects, such as bottle caps or pieces of aluminum foil, and carry them around until they lose interest. Tool use has never been reported for wild Blue Jays, but captive Blue Jays used strips of newspaper to rake in food pellets from outside their cages.
- The mating season begins in mid-March, peaks in mid-April to May, and extends into July. Any suitable tree or large bush may be used for nesting, though an evergreen is preferred.
- Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems, and have tight family bonds. They often mate for life, remaining with their social mate throughout the year. Only the female incubates; her mate provides all her food during incubation.
- In old African-American folktales of the southern United States, the blue jay was a significant metaphysical creature. In some tales, the blue jay was credited with making the earth "when all de worl' was water" by bringing the first "grit" or "dirt." In other tales the blue jay was temporarily conscripted as a servant of the devil and would not be seen on Friday as it was gathering twigs to furnish hell's kindling and give fire to wicked men on Earth; relieved from duty on Saturday, its song for the day was abundant and joyous.
- The blue jay is the provincial bird of the province of Prince Edward Island in Canada. It was adopted as the team symbol of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball team. The blue jay is also the official mascot for Johns Hopkins University, Elmhurst University, and Creighton University.
- 冠藍鴉是鴉科雀形目，又名藍松鴉、藍樫鳥，原產於北美東部。從加拿大南部以及美國東部和中部以南到佛羅裡達州和德克薩斯州東北部都可看到它們。
- 它的顏色主要是藍色，有白色的胸部和腹部及藍色的羽冠。它的脖子上有一個黑色的U形項圈，羽冠後面有一個黑色的邊。臉部、後頸部和喉嚨上的黑色繫帶變化很大，可能有助於藍鳥相互識別。冠藍鴉羽毛中的色素是黑色素，是棕色的，藍色是由羽毛羽枝表面的改造細胞散射光造成的。它的頭上有一個明顯的頂冠，可以根據鳥的心情升或降。當興奮或受攻擊時，頂冠會高高立起。當受到驚嚇時，冠毛會如毛刷一般四面張開。而當它們與其他北美洲松鴉一起覓食或休息時，頂冠是平鋪在頭頂上。
- 冠藍鴉生活在多種不同類型的棲息地，從佛羅裡達州的松樹林到安大略省北部的雲冷杉林。它們偏愛橡樹和山毛櫸的混合林，而在較為茂密的森林中要相對少見。它們對人類活動已經習以為常，時常出現在公園和住宅區。
- 冠藍鴉是雜食性的，但奧杜邦協會估計它們 75% 的飲食是植物。它們在樹木、灌木叢和地面上撿拾昆蟲、堅果和種子，它們也吃穀物。它們會將食物儲存在隱密處以供以後食用。
- 冠藍鴉是一種吵鬧、大膽且具攻擊性的雀形目鳥類。冠藍鴉可以發出很多種不同的聲音，而不同個體的鳴叫方式也是較為明顯的。像其他鴉科一樣，它們能模仿人類的說話聲。它也經常模仿鷹的叫聲，尤其是赤肩鵟。這些叫聲可以讓其他松鴉知道鷹在附近，也可用來欺騙其他物種相信鷹在附近。冠藍鴉對其他物種也是有益的，因為它們可以驅趕鳥類掠食者，如鷹和貓頭鷹這些偶爾會捕食冠藍鴉的鳥類，當它們發現天敵入侵自己的領區時就會尖厲的鳴叫。當鷹接近或其他危險來臨時，它們能發出警鳴，這樣小型鳥類就能辨別這種鳴叫聲，然後尋找藏身之處。
- 冠藍鴉是領地觀念很強的鳥類，它們會趕走餵食器附近的其他鳥以便更輕鬆地享受美餐。冠藍鴉也會侵占其他鳥類的巢，竊取其他鳥類的卵、幼雛和巢。不過這種情況實際上並不像人們所想的那麼普遍。儘管如此，其他雀形目鳥類仍可能會襲擊進入其繁殖地的松鴉。
- 它的飛行速度不算快，當它在空曠地區飛行時，很容易成為鷹和貓頭鷹的獵物。
- 像其他的鴉科一樣，冠藍鴉是非常好奇、聰慧的一種鳥。年輕的冠藍鴉會高興的奪取顏色鮮艷或反光的物體，如瓶蓋或鋁箔，然後帶著這些東西到處閒逛，直到它們失去興趣時才會扔掉這些東西。從未有關於野生冠藍鴉使用工具的報導，但圈養的冠藍鴉會使用報紙條從籠子外收集食物顆粒。
- 冠藍鴉的交配期始於3月中旬，在4月中旬至5月達到高潮，至7月才結束。任何適宜的樹或大灌木叢都可被用來築巢，不過它們更喜愛常綠植物。
- 冠藍鴉以其聰明才智和複雜的社會體系而聞名，並且有著緊密的家庭關係。它們通常終生交配，整年都與社交夥伴在一起。只有雌鳥負責孵蛋；她的伴侶在孵化期間會提供她所有的食物。
- 在美國南部黑人的古老民間傳說中，冠藍鴉是一種重要的形上學生物。在一些故事中，冠藍鴉被認為是“當世界上的一切都是水時”帶來第一批“砂礫”或“污垢”而創造了地球。在另一個故事中，冠藍鴉被暫時徵召為魔鬼的僕人，人們在星期五不會見到它，因為它正在收集樹枝來提供地獄的引火物，為地球上的惡人提供火種，不過週六它下班了，它會非常高興快活唱歌。
- 冠藍鴉是加拿大愛德華王子島的省鳥。冠藍鴉被多倫多的美國職棒大聯盟棒球隊多倫多冠藍鴉當作吉祥物。冠藍鴉也是約翰霍普金斯大學、艾爾姆赫斯特大學和克賴頓大學的吉祥物。
Birds Posts 鳥的帖子
References 參考資料