Aphelocoma californica
This aggressive jay of open country is often seen surveying its dry habitat from a perch atop a tall shrub. Western Scrub-Jays do not extend into the high elevations of the Rockies; they prefer lower elevations in the southern Rockies where shrublands prevail. A scrub-jay, instead of tolerating the presence of a neighboring Steller's Jay, frequently drives it away. These intelligent birds use 'anvil' sites to pound and break open nuts and seeds. They are also known to rub hairy caterpillars in sand or loose dirt to remove the irritating hairs. The Western Scrub-Jay was recently given full species status, and it is now separated from the Florida Scrub-Jay and the Island Scrub-Jay. |
I.D.: Sexes similar: slim body; sky-blue upperparts; long tail; gray and buffy underparts; white throat is slightly streaked and is bordered by a bluish 'necklace'; dark, heavy bill; dark cheek; faint white eyebrow. Size: L 111/2 in. (29 cm). Range: rare to locally common year-round in the southern and central U.S. Rockies. Habitat: semi-open forests, especially oak and pinyon-juniper forests, up to the lower montane. Nesting: in a small conifer or small shrub; pair builds the bulky stick nest, usually with an inner cup lined with moss, grass and fur; female incubates 3-6 eggs for 15-17 days. Feeding: forages on the ground for insects and small vertebrates; also eats other birds' eggs and nestlings, as well as acorns and pinyon nuts. Voice: harsh, repetitive ike-ike-ike; rough, frequently repeated quick-quick-quick. Similar Species: Pinyon Jay: blue underparts; shorter tail. Gray Jay: all-gray plumage. Steller's Jay: large crest; dark hood; dark underparts. |
