blue jay

a common, crested jay, Cyanocitta cristata, of eastern North America, having a bright blue back and a gray breast.

Origin of blue jay

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10

The blue-jay lovers sit on a branch, side by side, and gaze upon one another with enraptured eyes.

Birds of the Plains |Douglas Dewar
He called the Blue-jay, the mischief-maker of the woods, and told him what to do.

Woodland Tales |Ernest Seton-Thompson
The blue-jay, the red-headed woodpecker, the pheasant and wood-duck were shot for fly-feathers.

Fishing With The Fly |Charles F. Orvis and Others
I whistled the blue-jay note, which means "Come," and Jonathan came threshing through the brush, having left his rod.

The Jonathan Papers |Elisabeth Woodbridge Morris

Now, in the false dawn, a blue-jay awoke somewhere among the oaks and filled the misty silence with harsh grace-notes.

The Flaming Jewel |Robert W. Chambers

blue jay

a common North American jay, Cyanocitta cristata, having bright blue plumage with greyish-white underparts