Do Blue Jays And Cardinals Get Along?
Blue jays and cardinals are popular birds across America. Watching them together is a visual treat to birders; when they witness such an event, many bird watchers assume both birds get along. Is this true? Do blue jays and cardinals get along? What is your take on this?
The answer is no, blue jays and cardinals don’t get along, and they don’t peacefully stay together. Even if you see them together, there is a high chance of noticing them fighting with each other after staying together for a certain period.
So, why don’t they tolerate each other, and why do some birders claim to witness these birds flying together? We will answer all these questions through this content. Let’s read.
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Why Do Blue Jays And Cardinals Fly Together?
Usually, cardinals and blue jays don’t fly together from points A to B. But you may have heard people witnessing these birdies flying together. So, are they telling lies? No, they don’t. They may have seen them while both birds are foraging for food.
Blue jays and cardinals share a cross-section of the same foods. Thus, they will fly to areas with abundant food sources. And when these birds visit the same places, some people spot them and start believing these birds fly together.
Can Blue Jays and Cardinals Stay Together?
It depends on the circumstances. For instance, a blue jay and a cardinal may stay in one place for a limited period if the place has food for them. That said, you can expect to have both cardinals and blue jays in the same bird feeders for some time.
But speaking of getting along, neither blue jays nor cardinals will tolerate each other’s presence for an extended duration. They hate each other so much that you can always notice a bit of space between these two birdies while consuming food from the same bird feeder.
Why Don’t Blue Jays and Cardinals Get Along?
Because both birdies possess an aggressive behavioral trait, Blue jays often ward off small birds; in essence, they bully birds that are smaller than them. It’s how they exhibit dominance over small creatures.
Blue Jays and cardinals don’t get along as blue jays are more intelligent than cardinals, and these birdies can manipulate and control events for their potential benefit. Hence, blue jays assume other birdies at a lower level according to their intelligence.
Blue jays scare away cardinals and other small birds, seize their food sources, and steal their eggs. They may even indulge in a fight displaying sheer aggression.
Usually, blue jays attack other birds in a group, and you may call this act their natural survival instinct. They perform this job together to fend off enemies and defend their territories. So, this is why blue jays and cardinals don’t get along.
Do Cardinals And Blue Jays Mate?
Cardinals and blue jays don’t mate; they are poles apart species-wise. FYI, blue jays belong to the corvidae family, while cardinals are derived from the Cardinalidae bird group. Although they may seem similar in appearance, they are distinctly different on the biological level.
Thus, if you wish to cross-breed these two birdies, you won’t be successful, as a crossing between these two bird families simply doesn’t work. However, you can cross-breed birds of the same families.
For instance, you can cross-breed two different bird types of the Cardinalidae family, such as the Piranga and Habia. You can also cross-breed birds of the Corvidae family.
But you can’t cross-breed birds of Cardinalidae and Corvidae families as their genetic codes differ.
Are Cardinals More Belligerent Than Blue Jays?
No, they aren’t, and the actual scenario is quite the opposite. That means blue jays are more aggressive than cardinals. By nature, blue jays are hostile and work in a group to attack enemies and defend their territories.
In contrast to blue jays, cardinals barely attack small birds. Usually, they protect their territories by producing loud calls, and sometimes they chase off intruders. Still, they aren’t as belligerent as blue jays.
How Can You Protect Cardinals From Blue Jays?
Blue jays dominate the bird feeders and gobble all the food you offer to your backyard birdies. They will consume cardinals’ favorite black oil sunflower seeds. Not only that, but they will also chase away cardinals from the feeders.
Hence, to ensure that cardinals can peacefully eat seeds from the feeders, you must take a necessary step to scare away or defend blue jays. Here’s what you can do to prevent blue jays from invading cardinals’ feeders.
- You can install small cylinder feeders and fill those feeders with seeds. The benefit of mounting such a feeder type is that large birds like blue jays neither perch on it nor do they consume cardinals’ food. But cardinals can easily reach food filled inside these bird feeders.
So, this step will help you prevent blue jays and enable you to feed your favorite, beautiful birds: cardinals.
Final Words:
Blue jays and cardinals can’t stay in the same place for a prolonged period, though they encounter each other while foraging for food. Both birds hate each other’s appearance and start fighting whenever they notice one another.
Usually, blue jays first approach to indulge in a fight, and they begin the battle by chasing away cardinals. Considering these facts, it’s evident that blue jays and cardinals can never get along. Anyway, that’s all for this article; you may stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest for updates on such content.
