Oklahoma Blue Jays in the backyard

[Birdzilla]

I had several Blue Jays visiting my suet feeder over the weekend, which reminded me how complicated Blue Jay migration can be.

It is generally thought that many of the Blue Jays that nest in the Dallas or North Texas area migrate further south during the winter, only to be replaced by Blue Jays migrating in from places like Oklahoma. So, the Blue Jays one sees in the summer are very likely a different group of Blue Jays than the ones seen in the winter.

The situation can be even more complex. In the northern part of their range, some Blue Jays migrate south, while others over-winter. It appears that younger birds are more likely to migrate, while the older birds remain behind, perhaps to take the best nesting locations early the following spring.