Day 40: Although this bird is a blue jay, it is not a Bluejay. It's a Steller's Jay, and it's not blue. Neither is a Bluejay, for that matter. The colour blue only occurs in birds as a refraction of light through the cellular structure of their feathers. It makes them appear blue to human eyes, but in fact, no birds' feathers truly carry blue pigment. Turacos come close with a unique copper-based green pigmentation not found in any other species, but Bluejays, Bluebirds, Blue Tits, Blue Grosbeaks, Blue Herons, Lazuli Buntings, Indigo Buntings and other "blue" birds are actually brown. I find that this explanation is frequently met with skepticism or outright disbelief whenever I present it, proving that people believe what they want to believe whether it goes against the science or not. Some will come around after they do a little research. Others will remain forever obstinate, insistent that Santa Claus, UFOs and blue birds are real.
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