Are Blue Jays Friendly To Humans? The Answer May Surprise You

Blue Jays are a familiar sight in many backyards, with their distinctive blue and white plumage and bold personalities.

These birds have a reputation for being mischievous and intelligent, but what about their interactions with humans? 

Are Blue Jays friendly towards humans, or do they prefer to keep their distance?

While Blue Jays can be inquisitive and approachable, they are also naturally wary of humans and may not always be friendly. They may often attack if feel threatened. This can depend on various factors such as their natural behavior, the individual bird’s personality, and the presence of food.

In this blog post, we will delve deeper into the behavior and characteristics of Blue Jays and explore their interactions with humans. 

We will discuss their natural diet, the role of feeding in their behavior, and tips for attracting and encouraging friendly Blue Jay behavior. 

So, if you’re a bird lover or just curious about these fascinating creatures, keep reading to find out more!

Blue Jays Are Aggressive Birds by Nature

The first thing that you need to understand is whether these fascinating birds are always aggressive towards humans and other birds or not. The answer is a bit complicated. 

Blue Jays are extremely territorial and they will attack when they feel that their territory, younglings, or food supply are being threatened by an intruder. 

This means that if you approach them too closely or interact with them in any way, they may display signs of aggression such as hissing and flapping their wings.

Being strictly territorial, they are also quite protective of their nests, eggs, and nestlings which have taught them to be aggressive. They will do anything to protect their babies and for that reason, they are always on alert mode and will try to attack anytime they feel a threat. 

You might have seen them attacking cardinals, crows, sparrows, finches, woodpeckers, and even squirrels if they come too close to their nest. Though this behavior might seem intimidating at first, it is a sign of the blue jays being devoted parents to their young ones.

In addition to this Blue jays are also cautious about their food. They belong to Corvidea, a family of highly intelligent bird species, that are opportunistic feeders. They work hard gathering their food and know how to defend it as well.

They are so aggressive that even if a large bird tries to enter their territory such as a crow and if they can’t fight it they will form a gang against it. Mobbing is something very common in Blue Jays where several of them join together to ward off a potential threat.

So basically, yes blue jays can be aggressive towards humans but this is mainly due to their territorial nature and urge to protect their food source. 

Did You Know? Blue Jays are members of the Corvidae family which includes ravens and crows, and they are monogamous.

Why Do Blue Jays Fight with Other Birds?

Know that we have learned about their aggressive nature, the next question in your mind will be about the reasons why blue jays fight with other birds. 

Although I have already given you a brief explanation, let’s take a closer look into circumstances that turn blue jays into aggressive fighters. 

1. Blue Jays Don’t Like Intruders in Territory

The first and most common reason for them to fight with other birds is to drive them out of their territory.

As already mentioned above, blue jays are highly territorial and they don’t like anyone entering their territory. 

So if a bird of any other species tries to enter the territory that is claimed by a blue jay, then it will attack it with its beak or wings to drive it away.

In many cases, they will form a gang and will start screaming loud in their “jay” tone to scare off the other bird. 

2. They Fight for Food

Another reason why blue jays become aggressive is because of food. If two or more birds are competing for the same food, then they can turn violent and start fighting each other in order to get their share of the food. 

Now, this is quite an interesting behavior. You may have noticed them on different bird feeders enjoying their food with other birds on some days and fighting with other birds on other days. 

This can be attributed to the fact that they want to protect their food source and will not hesitate to fight if necessary. I think they survey the food first and see if the food is enough for them and other birds or not. 

3. They Protect Their Nestlings

The next most valid reason why blue jays become aggressive is when they are protecting their kids. It is a natural instinct to protect the young ones from any kind of harm or danger and blue jays are no exception. 

They will attack anyone or anything that comes too close to their nestlings, thereby displaying their willingness to fight for their family.

This can be quite intimidating for other birds who try to enter their territory as they know that they will be attacked if they do so. 

So this concludes our brief look into why blue jays fight with other birds. I hope you now have a better understanding as to why these beautiful birds behave the way they do and why they need to display such aggression at times.

Now let’s get back to our main topic 

Are Blue Jays Friendly to Humans?

After learning about the behavior of blue jays and the different reasons why they become aggressive you might be wondering if they are friendly to humans or not. 

Unlike some birds who live near humans, blue jays try to avoid human interaction as much as they can. 

This is because they consider any large organisms as a threat and will try to protect themselves along with their nests and nestlings. 

However, they are not naturally aggressive toward humans. As long as you stay away from their nest and territory they will never attack you. 

Author’s Note: The blue jay is a mid-sized bird, ranging from 9 to 12 inches in length as well as having a wingspan between 34 and 43 cm. This majestic creature typically weighs 70 to 100 g (2.5 – 3.5 oz). You can find them in an array of habitats across its expansive range; they inhabit everything from the pine woods of sunny Florida up north into Canada’s spruce-fir forests!

You can attract them to your garden with just a little bit of effort. Apart from that, you can even train them to come near you and even feed them in your hands if you are able to gain their trust. 

I have written a separate guide on hand-feeding blue jays which explains all the steps and things you will need to do to gain their trust and make them come to you. 

Can You Form A Bond With Blue Jays?

Despite their aggressive nature, it is possible to form a bond with blue jays if you put some effort into it. 

Blue jays will slowly start to recognize your face and voice and will eventually become comfortable with your presence.

However, forming a bond with them is not easy and requires patience as well as a lot of understanding.

You need to be consistent in your approach and try to gain their trust as much as possible. 

How To Make Friends With A Blue Jay?

Fortunately, there are several ways in which you can make friends with a blue jay. 

Firstly, you need to locate the exact spot where they live and spend most of their time. Then you can start by placing some food near that spot, preferably something which they like such as sunflower seeds or peanuts. 

Once they get comfortable with your presence, you can even try talking to them in a soft voice and give them names so that they know who is calling out for them.

Remember, it is important to be patient with them as it takes time for them to trust a human. 

Apart from this, another way in which you can make friends with blue jays is by providing nesting materials for them such as twigs, feathers, and other such things.

They will appreciate this gesture and in return, they will become more comfortable with your presence. 

Last Minute Thoughts!

Are blue jays friendly to humans? 

Typically they are not aggressive toward human beings and will try to simply avoid contact with humans just like other wild birds and animals.

However, there are some cases in which they will show aggression and will even attack you by forming a gang. Despite their small size, blue jays are very territorial birds and can become quite aggressive if they feel threatened. 

But it is also possible to form a bond with them by showing patience, and understanding and putting some effort into gaining their trust.

Once you can make friends with them, they will even come near you and eat out of your hands! So don’t forget to try this if you ever get the chance. 

I hope this article helped give you a better understanding of whether blue jays are friendly towards humans or not. If you have any more queries related to these beautiful birds, feel free to comment below!