Canada Jay: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Crows and Clever Birds · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. Each summer, a Canada jay hides thousands of food bits in bark, glued with sticky spit. Months later, it finds them again from memory.
2. A pair is often joined by a young bird from the year before. Later, this helper brings food to its younger brothers and sisters.
3. A great mimic, it can copy the calls of at least 40 bird species, and even red squirrels and pet cats.
4. Its alarms carry details: harsh clicks mean danger on the ground, repeated whistles mean a predator in the sky.
5. Canada jays build nests and lay eggs as early as February or March, while deep snow still covers the forest.

The quiz

1. How does a Canada jay make its stored food stick in place?

• It mixes it with mud
• It coats it in sticky saliva (correct)
• It freezes it in ice
• It ties it with grass

Each food ball is covered in sticky spit that clings to bark.

2. What does the young helper bird do for the family?

• It builds a second nest
• It sings to the eggs
• It chases the parents away
• It brings food to its younger siblings (correct)

Last year's juvenile helps by feeding the new young.

3. Which mammal sounds can Canada jays imitate?

• Red squirrels and domestic cats (correct)
• Wolves and bears
• Moose and deer
• Bats and mice

Besides 40 bird species, it copies red squirrels and cats.

4. What does a Canada jay's series of repeated whistles warn about?

• Rain coming
• A predator on the ground
• Food nearby
• A predator in the air (correct)

Whistles flag a flying predator; harsh clicks flag one on the ground.

5. When do Canada jays start nesting?

• In February or March, in deep snow (correct)
• In late summer
• Only in autumn
• In December, then again in July

They nest in late winter while snow is still deep.

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