Blue jays live primarily in eastern and central North America, with their range extending from southern Canada through most of the eastern and central United States, south to Florida and northeastern Texas
. They inhabit a variety of wooded habitats, preferring mixed deciduous or mixed forests that include oak and beech trees, often favoring woodland edges rather than dense forests
. Blue jays also thrive in human-altered environments such as parks, cemeteries, residential areas, and towns where trees are present
. Their range has been expanding northwestward into Canada and the Pacific Northwest, including states like Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, largely due to the growth of forested urban and suburban areas
. While they are common year-round residents in much of their range, some northern populations may migrate south irregularly in response to food availability and weather conditions
. In summary, blue jays live in:
- Eastern and central United States and southern Canada
- Mixed deciduous or mixed woodlands with oak and beech trees
- Urban and suburban areas with trees (parks, yards, cemeteries)
- Expanding into northwestern regions due to habitat changes
They avoid strictly coniferous forests and deep dense forests but adapt well to a variety of wooded habitats and human environments
