Blue Jay Taking Off Between Bare Winter Trunks

A blue jay launches from a thin branch in the middle of the frame, its wings swept down and back so the long flight feathers fan out in layers. The upper wings show bright blue with black barring and white tips, while the pale underside of the body and a black necklace mark stand out against the crest and face. The bird looks toward the left with its beak slightly open.

Behind it, a few grey tree trunks rise through a soft, out-of-focus background of pale sky and bare branches. The palette is cool and muted, which makes the blue the only strong colour. The mood is quiet and still, even though the bird is in motion.

Blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) are common in eastern and central North America, including Ohio. They stay through the winter in many areas and eat acorns, nuts, seeds and insects. They are known for caching acorns and for a wide range of calls. The square format and the open space around the bird suit a tablet, a phone with a centred crop, or a desktop where icons sit to the sides.

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