Not so Blue jay
Apr 1, 2016 17:23:01 #
Cyanocitta cristata, the Blue jay. Did you know the Blue jay isn't really blue. It's natural colors are black, white and grey, but because we only see them in daylight, they appear to be blue. There is no blue pigment in their feathers at all. The blue is a result of light refraction in their feathers. Damage the feather and no more blue, or just remove direct sunlight. Here's a couple shots I got of one of my local blue jays when the light was just right to lose the blue
Apr 1, 2016 19:13:58 #
Apr 2, 2016 08:21:16 #
The fact that the blue jays are not really blue was really brought home to me was when I came upon a newly dead one while on a walk - it was mainly grey and I couldn't identify the bird. Then I also noticed that the sky was covered in clouds so the reflection of the blue sky wasn't there. That's when I figured out it was a blue jay. We have enough ravens and crows around here that a carcass doesn't remain for long.
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