27 March 2026
Blue jays can be very territorial about food and water but they don’t always win the contest.
When two jays want the same thing they argue and chase until one of them leaves.
Other species use different techniques. This red-winged blackbird pair double-teams a blue jay so that one gets a nut while the bird is distracted.
video embedded from Birds & Bugs & More on YouTube
Woodpeckers threaten with sharp weapons.
Mine!
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are tough customers. Of all the birds that dominate feeders, no one argues with a Red-bellied Woodpecker. When they fly in, everyone else moves out of the way.
I do like Blue Jays though. And I like grackles. Most people don’t.