<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Global range Breeding range Year - round range Wintering range See also text for recent range expansion . </Td> </Tr> <P> The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America . It is resident through most of eastern and central United States, although western populations may be migratory . Resident populations are also found in Newfoundland, Canada, while breeding populations can be found in southern Canada . It breeds in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and is common near and in residential areas . It 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 . Sexes are similar in size and plumage, and plumage does not vary throughout the year . Four subspecies of the blue jay are recognized . </P> <P> The blue jay mainly feeds on nuts and seeds such as acorns, soft fruits, arthropods, and occasionally small vertebrates . It typically gleans food from trees, shrubs, and the ground, though it sometimes hawks insects from the air . Like squirrels, blue jays are known to hide nuts for later consumption . It builds an open cup nest in the branches of a tree, which both sexes participate in constructing . The clutch can contain two to seven eggs, which are blueish or light brown with brown spots . Young are altricial, and are brooded by the female for 8--12 days after hatching . They may remain with their parents for one to two months . </P> <P> The bird's name derives from its noisy, garrulous nature . It is sometimes called a "jaybird". </P>

What does a blue jay nest look like