Bird of the day March 31:

March 31, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Photo by Heather Wolf

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It is legend that Blue jay’s love of acorns helped spread Oak trees in the regions they inhabit. This passerine (perching, with three toes forward, one back) is native to Eastern North America and has migratory patterns that vary so much as to confuse bird study. Scientific name: Cyanocitta cristata. If you want the pretty blue hues of their feathers in your backyard, Blue jays prefer tray and hopper feeders, not hanging ones. Give them peanuts and sunflower seeds. The Blue jay frequently mimics the call of hawks, sometimes to warn other Jays, sometimes to deceive rival species into believing a hawk is near. Their blue coloring is caused by the scattering of light through their feather barbs.