Blue Jay Behavior: A Curious Moment

While photographing birds at my birdbath, I saw something unusual happen with a pair of Blue Jays. It was one of those unexpected moments that make you pause and wonder what birds might be thinking.

A Strange Moment at the Birdbath

The first Blue Jay landed on the edge of the birdbath and began drinking. It took a few sips and looked around. A few seconds later, a second Blue Jay arrived. This one had a small twig in its beak. It landed right next to the first bird, paused for a moment, and then dropped the twig directly into the water. It seemed like it purposely placed it there for the other bird to see. Right after that, both birds flew off together to a nearby tree, leaving the twig behind in the birdbath.

Interpreting Blue Jay Actions

I was sitting on my deck, watching, wondering what I had just seen. Why did the second Blue Jay bring the twig? Was it trying to communicate something? Was it sharing? Or just being playful?

Blue Jay Intelligence and Curiosity

Blue Jays are known for being intelligent and curious. They mimic other birds, hide food, and investigate anything new in their environment. This behavior with the twig could have been another example of their natural curiosity. Maybe the bird wanted to see what would happen when the twig hit the water. Or maybe it was just playing, and the twig was nothing more than a toy.

Possible Social Behavior in Blue Jays

There’s also the chance this was some kind of bonding behavior. Birds sometimes do strange but meaningful things when they interact with each other. Maybe the second Blue Jay was trying to get the first one’s attention or spark a reaction. Whatever the reason, the two flew off together, and the twig stayed behind—leaving me with more questions than answers.

Blue Jays are known for complex social interactions. I photographed, a male Blue Jay feeding his mate – a nurturing ritual worth seeing. You can view that photo and read about it here: A Nurturing Ritual: Male Blue Jay Feeds His Mate

Why These Encounters Matter

These small, unexpected moments are what I enjoy most about wildlife photography. You never know what you’re going to see. A simple birdbath visit turned into a quiet mystery that made me stop and think. And sometimes, that’s the best part of being out there with a camera.