The best bird feeder and seed for blue jays
Jays are big and need a platform or large hopper. They carry off whole peanuts to cache them. Whole in-shell peanuts on a tray are the fastest way to bring jays in.
Which feeder types do blue jays use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform or tray feeder | Anything | None at all | Draws the widest range of species, including ground feeders. Needs a mesh floor for drainage and daily cleanup. |
| Hopper feeder | Sunflower, safflower, mixes | Poor unless weight-activated or baffled | A house-shaped reservoir with a wide ledge. The best all-round feeder for cardinals. |
| Peanut wreath | In-shell peanuts | Squirrels will raid it | A wire ring that makes jays work for each peanut. |
| Peanut mesh feeder | Shelled peanuts | Squirrels chew through soft mesh; use steel | Birds peck pieces through the mesh, which is safer for nestlings than whole kernels. |
Feeders blue jays use, budget to premium
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What seed do blue jays like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Peanuts in the shell | Jays cache them, which is fun to watch and empties a tray fast. | Keeps well dry |
| Shelled peanuts | Raw or dry-roasted, never salted or flavoured. Use a mesh feeder so birds peck pieces rather than swallowing whole kernels in nesting season. | Keep dry and cool; mould is the risk |
| Black oil sunflower | High oil content and a thin shell make it the widest-appeal seed there is. Most feeder birds in most of North America eat it. | Keeps well for months in a sealed metal can |
| Cracked corn | Offer only what disappears in a day. Wet, mouldy corn is dangerous to birds. Also attracts house sparrows, blackbirds and geese. | Keep dry; wet corn grows aflatoxin mould |
Food to buy for blue jays
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Where and when should you feed blue jays?
- Height and spot: 5 to 6 feet, near tall trees.
- When: Bold and noisy; often arrive in family groups in autumn.
- Range: Eastern and central US and southern Canada.
- Feeding style: Comfortable feeding on the ground or a low tray, so clear spilled seed and keep cats away.
The same setup also brings cardinals, house finches, chickadees, titmice and nuthatches, which use the same feeder types.
Nesting: A bulky twig cup 10 to 25 feet up in the crotch of a tree, often a conifer or oak. Do blue jays use birdhouses?
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the blue jays feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for blue jays on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for blue jays?
A platform or tray feeder is the most reliable choice for blue jays. Jays are big and need a platform or large hopper. They carry off whole peanuts to cache them. Pair it with peanuts in the shell, place it 5 to 6 feet, near tall trees, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a hopper feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do blue jays eat at feeders?
In order of preference: peanuts in the shell, shelled peanuts, black oil sunflower and cracked corn. Jays cache them, which is fun to watch and empties a tray fast. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for blue jays?
5 to 6 feet, near tall trees. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so blue jays can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do blue jays come to feeders?
Bold and noisy; often arrive in family groups in autumn. Range: Eastern and central US and southern Canada. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season blue jays are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do blue jays use birdhouses?
No. A bulky twig cup 10 to 25 feet up in the crotch of a tree, often a conifer or oak. Keep mature trees, especially oaks, and feed peanuts. Jays do not use boxes.