This elegant and well known bird, in the delicate coloring and beauty of his plumage, will bear a comparison with any of the gaudy colored birds of tropical climes, and it probably surpasses many of them in his sprightly and lively attitudes. He is also, altogether our own bird, and does not leave us, even in the inclement season of the year; for I have found them in the very middle of winter, in our large woods, to which they resort in extreme cold weather. In the autumn they secrete and bury acorns, and such hard seeds that they feed on, in divers places, it is said, for their winter's hoard. But I think it is rather to indulge a propensity which is natural to all this class of birds, to hide anything they can find, for they distribute these seeds in such a scattering manner that it is not possible that they could ever find nine-tenths of them again, when the snow is on the ground. I have seen one of these birds, with a large acorn in his mouth, alight on the top of a gate post, and put the acorn in the centre, where the pith was decayed, and hammer it down with his bill; so that if any of my readers should see a sapling growing out of a gate post, which is not uncommon, they may conclude that Mr. Jay was the planter. I have seen them put them at the root of a bush, and in a hollow in the open field, and strike them down with their bill in the same manner. It is said, and there is no doubt of it, that in this manner, and by dropping those seeds in transportation, those birds plant vast numbers of our forest trees. Their antics and attitudes in a cage are highly amusing; they are also by no means contemptible songsters; some of their high notes I will allow, are rather loud, but they have some low notes which are very musical. They will also imitate the notes of other birds. They are also very docile; they will answer to their name, and form a strong attachment to those who keep them; and, it is said, have been taught to articulate words. I kept a pair for sometime in a cage which was built up against the wall of the room, which formed one side. Close up to the roof they picked a hole through the plastering, and it was amusing to see them indulge their favorite propensity. The surplus of their food, and everything else which they did not immediately want, they put into this hole. This would not profit them much for their winter's hoard, but it might be serviceable to the rats or mice, for it went down probably to the cellar.

Food

They are hardy, and easily kept in a cage, and are not at all choice of their food, for they will eat almost anything. I kept them in fine plumage on meal and milk, and a bit of beef, either raw or cooked.

Characteristics Of The Sexes

The male of this bird has the upper parts of a light purplish blue, with a fine large crest on the crown of the head; the wings and tail are barred with black, and tipped with white, and are of a beautiful purplish blue. There is a band of black round the neck, and the lower parts are of a brownish white. The female has the crest much smaller; the black, grayish, and the blue is lighter and duller.

Location

Found throughout the United States - Resident.