Cyanocitta cristata
A very common, 12 inch bird, native to Virginia all year round.
Males are bright blue with a black necklace and blue tail with black marks and a white tip. They have a white belly, face and wing bars. They have a prominent crest that moves at will. Females are the same as males. Juveniles are the similar to adults, only duller.
Blue Jays eat insects, nuts, seeds, suet and fruits as well as eggs, fledglings from nests and dead animals. They love whole or shelled peanuts! They are very smart birds and mimic other birds like hawks to clear feeders before they arrive to eat.