Blue Jay Thief!

An innocent looking Blue Jay may be plotting his next theft.

Blue Jays are regular visitors to our backyard. I have recently noticed one stealing food from other birds.

A peanut feeder in our yard makes the birds "work" for their meal. Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers are regular users of this feeder. In the above photo, the Red-bellied Woodpecker has extracted a peanut from the shell and is removing it from the sphere. Woodpeckers have "zygodactyl" feet which help them cling to tree trunks. (2 toes point forward, 2 toes backwards.) Blue Jay feet are not designed to allow them to hang in this position.

Once the bird has claimed the "prize" it will fly up to a natural bowl on a branch in our Silver Maple Tree. (Using the bowl must reduce the risk of the nut falling to the ground.)

Downy Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees 

and both Nuthatches regularly use this same bowl for dining.

Since Jays can't access the peanut feeder, a sneaky Jay has learned to watch the birds at the feeder. He flies at them when they drop the seed into the wooden bowl. The other bird is usually startled, flies away, and the Blue Jay steals the food. I'm quite surprised that it has stolen from a Red-bellied Woodpecker!

Blue Jays are currently collecting sticks for nesting material. Perhaps the next generation will continue the backyard thievery!