The Gray Jay is the country cousin of the Blue Jay. Gray Jays are very friendly toward people, but they have not adapted to living in cities and towns. Most people encounter their first Gray Jay while visiting a coniferous forest. If your yard has coniferous woodland nearby, these intelligent birds may pay a visit to your property.

Unlike Blue Jays who love sunflower seeds, Gray Jays are not attracted to seed feeders. They can be tempted by doughnuts, bread, suet chunks, bacon and other fatty foods. Of all the backyard birds, the Gray Jay is the quickest to build a long-term bond with a person or persons. If you wish to encourage such a bond you can do it by slowly approaching a Gray Jay with food displayed in your open hand. If you are lucky the bird will come to your hand on your first attempt; if not, keep trying as Gray Jays are notorious for accepting (sometimes stealing) hand-outs. Gray Jays are quick to associate the presence of the food with your presence and once they do, any indication that you are in the yard can cause them to arrive expecting more food.

Gray Jays lack the crest of the Blue Jay but you should have no problem identifying them as they remind most people of a gray-coloured jay. They are more robust than a Blue Jay but have roughly the same body, tail, beak, legs and feet, and similar behaviour. As you get to know the Gray Jay you will probably discover that they are just as bold as a Blue Jay but not so saucy or suspicious. If you spot one Gray Jay, keep your eyes open for more. Gray Jays mate for life and stay with their mates year round. In addition, the young often travel with their parents for up to a year after they hatch. Adult Gray Jays are gray above and off-white below and sport a white cap on the front of their head and a black patch on the back of their head. Young birds, before they acquire their adult plumage, are the same size as the adults but are a dark sooty gray all over.