Western Scrub-Jay

Overview

Western Scrub-Jay: Medium, crestless jay, blue head, wings, tail, gray mask, back, pale gray underparts. Dark-streaked, white throat bordered by dark necklace. Bill, legs, feet are black. Eats grains, fruits, insects, frogs, lizards and eggs and young of other birds. Flies with steady wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Western Scrub-Jay: Resident from Washington, Wyoming, and Colorado south to Texas and Mexico. Preferred habitats include scrub oak, woodlands, and chaparral. Also inhabits suburban gardens.

INTERESTING FACTS

Researchers have studied the ability of Western Scrub-Jays to hide (cache) and remember seeds, of these seeds, for instance acorns, are forgotten and later germinate.
This species is known to feed on parasites on the body of mule deer, hopping over the body and head of the deer to get them.
A group of jays has many collective nouns, including a "band", "cast", "party", and "scold" of jays.

The Western Scrub-Jay is a native of western North America, including southern Washington, central Texas and central Mexico. This bird may also be called the California Jay or Long-tailed Jay. This species may be found in urban areas, and will feed from man-made structures. The Western Scrub-Jay is a permanent, year-round resident of its habitat, including low scrublands, pinyon-juniper forests, oak woodlands and suburban gardens. Nests are built low in trees or bushes. Food is foraged from the forest floor, and diets consist of frogs and lizards, eggs and young birds, insects, grains, nuts and berries. The conservation rating for this species is Least Concern.