Blue Jay 25 Cents, Series: Birds of Canada

Birds of Canada theme is back due to popular demand.

The Blue Jay is a very noisy bird that makes its home all over the province of Quebec. Full colour image of the Blue Jay is printed on the Certificate of Authenticity. Coin is encapsulated and presented in a maroon clamshell case lined with flock and protected by a black sleeve.

Flight seems almost effortless for the Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) as it glides through the air with surprising speed while barely flapping its wings. However, the jay’s quiet arrival is often announced by its harsh calls, which sometimes mimic other birds such as the Red-shouldered Hawk. The jay’s calls often alerts other birds to the presence of humans, cats or other possible predators.

Another surprise—its vivid blue colour is an illusion created by the unique inner structure of the jay’s feathers and they way they reflect light. Crush a Blue Jay feather and the blue tones disappear. This shimmering blue adorns the Jay’s crest, back, wings and tail, which are also accented in black and white. Unlike many bird species, there are no obvious differences in the plumage of males and females.