Blue Jay
Blue JayBlue JayBlue JayBlue Jay

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
50–60% · Likely
overall probability at Riding Mountain National Park
295 Verified records at Riding Mountain National Park
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to eastern North America. It lives in most of the eastern and central United States; some eastern populations may be migratory. Resident populations are also in Newfoundland, Canada; breeding populations are found across southern Canada. It breeds in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and is common in residential areas. 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. Males and females are similar in size and plumage, which does not vary throughout the year. Wikipedia →

50–60% of wildlife watchers report a Blue Jay sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 295 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Riding Mountain National Park

American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
Black-billed Magpie
LC

Black-billed Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pica hudsonia

20–30% · Possible
Gray Jay
LC

Gray Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Perisoreus canadensis

20–30% · Possible
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

60–70% · Likely
White-throated Sparrow
LC

White-throated Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia albicollis

60–70% · Likely
Black-capped Chickadee
LC

Black-capped Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile atricapillus

50–60% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

50–60% · Likely
Chipping Sparrow
LC

Chipping Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella passerina

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

40–50% · Likely
Common Yellowthroat
LC

Common Yellowthroat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geothlypis trichas

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

70–80
Jan
50–60
Feb
60–70
Mar
60–70
Apr
60–70
May
40–50
Jun
40–50
Jul
60–70
Aug
60–70
Sep
60–70
Oct
60–70
Nov
80–90
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
70–80%
2 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
70–80%
3 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
4 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
5 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
50–60%
6 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
50–60%
7 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
50–60%
8 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
9 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
10 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
11 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
12 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
13 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
14 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
15 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
16 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
17 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
18 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
20 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
21 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
22 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Blue Jay in Riding Mountain National Park?

About 58% of wildlife watchers report a Blue Jay sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 295 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Blue Jay in Riding Mountain National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Blue Jay in Riding Mountain National Park in our monthly data.

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