this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2024
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Photo by Sunny

It's not often you see an owl hanging out with a songbird. This Blue Jay and Pygmy Owl seem to be unbothered by each other's presence for the moment.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I love this! โค๏ธ

Blue Jays are like a gang in my yard. I love them, but they like to scare the other birds away from the feeders and then throw a bunch of seed on the ground looking for the right one. Sigh.

[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

Mine don't seem bossy, except with each other. They typically stick just to the peanuts in a shell I toss right to them. They leave the seeds to everyone else.

One of them picks up every peanut to find the best one, and another tries to take 2 at once but the second one never fits.

Some of the cardinals and titmice have finally started following their example. It's funny seeing the little tits fly off loaded down by peanut. ๐Ÿ˜†

[โ€“] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That is a beautiful photo!

[โ€“] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago

I was thrilled to find it, especially without it ending up tragically for either party! ๐Ÿ˜…

My jays are my favorite backyard birds. I have so much fun with them. They've been the closest thing to a pet I've had the last few years. They're so interactive.

[โ€“] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (2 children)

The owl looks like it's scheming an evil plan with the Jay.

[โ€“] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That jay will double cross the owl, they are not to be trusted.

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

The jay can't eat the owl though! Jay needs to have a backup plan in place.

[โ€“] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

If they're anything like my resident jays, that's almost guaranteed!

[โ€“] [email protected] 10 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Blue Jays, surprisingly big!

[โ€“] [email protected] 25 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Being as big as a Pygmy Owl isn't the highest achievement... ๐Ÿ˜

The jays are big enough to be the boys in my yard though. I love those guys.

[โ€“] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That person might just be really close and the owl really far away!

[โ€“] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Northern Pygmy Owl

  • Length 7 in / 18 cm
  • Weight 2 oz / 56 g

Blue Jay

  • Length 9โ€“12 in / 22โ€“30 cm
  • Weight 2.5โ€“3.5 oz / 70โ€“100 g
  • Jays are smaller the further south they are.
[โ€“] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

If you're used to common Blue Jays, the Mountain/Steller's Jay will appear surprisingly large. Especially since the ones in the Rockies, at least, have no qualms about getting right up in your face.

(That's not the bird in OP's photo, though.)

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

Ooo he's got an executioner's hood!

[โ€“] [email protected] 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I saw a bluejay attack and kill a smaller bird (titmouse, I think), last summer. Kindred spirits, maybe.

[โ€“] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

Aww, poor little titmouse. ๐Ÿ˜ฎ

Birds are savage little dinosaurs.

I can't believe how bad the chickadees messed up that Screech Owl I posted recently. All birds are tough.

[โ€“] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[โ€“] [email protected] 10 points 9 months ago

It's nice to get some bright colors into the owl photos!

[โ€“] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

This isn't good. They're planning something.

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

Let them cook

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Same energy as me telling the random stranger in line at the store with me about my favorite episode of Star Trek

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Lol I feel this comment!