Blue upperparts, white underside and black necklace.
How to recognize it
Blue upperparts, white underside and black necklace.
Where you may find it in Ontario
Wooded neighbourhoods and mature trees. Local occurrence depends on habitat, region and season.
Food and ecological role
Acorns, seeds, insects and other foods. Every species is part of a larger food web involving plants, insects, birds and mammals.
When to look
Year-round.
Make your backyard more welcoming
Protect oaks and other native trees.
Identification and safety
Use several features, not a single colour or silhouette, to confirm identification. Observe wildlife from a respectful distance; do not handle or feed wild animals. For species-specific photographs and further details, see the reference below.
Further reading: Species identification / reference. Also see Ontario backyard resources.