Blue Jays are native to eastern North America, with populations spanning the eastern and central United States and much of southern Canada. They are named after the blue jay bird, which gives both the team and the bird their shared name and color. Key points:
- The bird: Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a resident or short-distance migrant in much of eastern North America, including parts of Canada and the United States. They prefer deciduous and coniferous forests, are common around residential areas, and are known for their loud, garrulous calls. Their range includes Newfoundland and central Canada, with several subspecies recognized.
- The Toronto Blue Jays (MLB team): An expansion franchise founded in 1977 and based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The team competes in Major League Baseball as a member of the American League East. The name was chosen in a national name-the-team contest, with the blue jay bird as the inspiration. They played initial seasons at Exhibition Stadium and later moved to SkyDome/Rogers Centre.
- Why the name “Blue Jays”: Derived from the blue jay bird, combined with Toronto’s association of blue in local sports branding. The team’s official colors include blue tones, echoing the bird’s namesake.
If you’d like, I can pull up the most recent sources or give a quick timeline of the Blue Jays’ franchise milestones.
