Western Scrub-Jay

The Western Scrub-Jay , is a species of scrub-jay native to western North America. It ranges from southern Washington to central Texas and central Mexico. It comprises three distinct subspecies groups, all of which may be separate species. They are California Scrub-Jay , Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay , and Sumichrast's Scrub-Jay . The Western Scrub-Jay was once lumped with the Island Scrub-Jay and the Florida Scrub-Jay; the taxon was then called, simply, the Scrub Jay. The Western Scrub-Jay is nonmigratory and can be found in urban areas, where it can become tame and will come to bird feeders. While many refer to scrub-jays as blue jays, the Blue Jay is a different species of bird entirely. In recent years, the California Scrub-Jay has expanded its range north into the Puget Sound region of Washington.

The Western Scrub-Jay is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

A Western Scrub-Jay of the "Woodhouse's" population, from New Mexico Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Aphelocoma Species: A. More

Look for Western Scrub-Jays in open habitats of the West: oak woodlands and chaparral near the coast and pinyon-juniper woodlands of the interior West; also backyards, pastures, and orchards. Typically, though not always, in lower and drier habitats than Steller’s Jay. More

Western Scrub-Jays in areas where acorns are abundant have deep, stout, slightly hooked bills. Those in areas with lots of pinyon pine have long, shallow, pointed bills. The shape of the bill helps the jays open their preferred foods: a stout bill is good for hammering open acorns and the hook helps rip off the shell; a thinner, more pointed bill can get in between pine cone scales to get at the pine seeds. More

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. More

Western scrub-jays are common through the American West, from the California coast through Oregon, southern Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and parts of Texas, mostly in lowland areas with oak and pinyon pine trees. The birds easily adapt to urban and suburban areas and are popular visitors to backyard feeders. Western scrub-jays do not migrate. Vocalizations: Like all jays, western scrub-jays are very vocal birds. More

The Western Scrub-Jay was once lumped with the Island Scrub-Jay and the Florida Scrub-Jay; the taxon was then called, simply, the Scrub Jay. The Western Scrub-Jay is nonmigratory and can be found in urban areas, where it can become tame and will come to bird feeders. While many refer to scrub-jays as "blue jays", the Blue Jay is a different species of bird entirely. In recent years, the California Scrub-Jay has expanded its range north into the Puget Sound region of Washington. More

Western scrub-jay is non-migratory, urbanised and easily tamed, and is a frequent visitor to bird feeders. It is noted for its bold habit and harsh, scratchy calls. The scrub-jay is generally monogamous, and the pair both help to create the nest and raise offspring. Family groups will be assisted by helper males and females who will not breed. Western scrub-jays are omnivorous, forage in pairs, small flocks or in family groups in scrub; preferring juniper, oak and mesquite. More

Western Scrub-Jay is the familiar jay of a broad range of lowland and montane habitats. The species frequents scrub and dry woodlands dominated by oaks or piñon pines, but has also adapted well to suburban landscapes. Western Scrub-Jays come into contact with several related species, including the crested Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) at higher elevations from Colorado and Washington southward and Blue Jay (C. cristata) in the southern Great Plains to the east. Western Scrub-Jays overlap with Mexican Jays (A. More

The western scrub-jay nests in the dense foliage of a large bush or small tree, usually situated near water. Learn more about California's flora from our front page. Return to Bird page Check out the butterflies Las Pilitas: San Luis Obispo and San Diego Counties We tried to use kibble for the webmaster, he still can't type. He does bark the answers. More

Currently, there are four subspecies of the Western Scrub-Jay that live and breed in California (Pyle 1997and Phillips 1986). Roughly speaking, the characters distinguishing the California subspecies are size and color (Bent 1946). Coastal (A.c.californica) Group: Bright blue in color, underparts whitish. The "californica" group is characterized by a contrasting plumage pattern and a heavy bill and short wings (Pitelka 1951). * A.c.californica "California Jay": breeds and winters from southern Washington to coastal west-central California, Ventura County. More

The Western Scrub-Jay has blue upperparts, a grayish-brown back, and light underparts. It has a well-defined blue breast-band that contrasts with its white breast and throat. A white line just above each eye divides the blue crown from the darker cheek patches. More

Although stable or increasing in other areas, Western Scrub-Jay has experienced significant declines in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona since 1980. These losses may be compounded by recent and ongoing loss of pinyon-juniper habitat to drought and beetle infestation. More

"Variation within the Western Scrub-Jay represents a subset of the variation that extends to its 2 closest relatives, the Island Scrub-Jay (A. insularis) and the Florida Scrub-Jay (A. coerulescens). The former, a peripheral population derivative of West Coast populations of the Western Scrub-Jay, is...endemic to Santa Cruz Island, California. ... More

On Western Scrub-Jay the mantle is a paler gray with less obvious blue and brown tones and contrasting distinctly with the surrounding blue, especially the darker blue of the “necklace”. * The under tail coverts of Island Scrub-Jay are washed with blue. More

● Foraging & Feeding: Western Scrub-Jay: Diet consists of insects, grains, small lizards, frogs, fruits, and eggs and young of other birds; forages in trees and on the ground. ● Breeding & nesting: Western Scrub-Jay: Two to seven light gray or green eggs spotted with brown, red brown, or olive, are laid in a twiggy nest well hidden in a tree or dense shrub. Incubation ranges from 15 to 17 days and is carried out by the female. Male feeds female during incubation. More

The Western Scrub-jay is not so much a common bird in the Santa Monica Mountains as well as in urban areas across southern California sitting on shrubs and calling loudly. It is a bold and aggressive bird coming within a few meters of us at the banding station to pick up crumbs from donuts and other snacks, especially goldfish. In urban areas, it boldly scolds and attacks cats. Yet we know when it has eggs or chicks in the nest, as scrub-jays become conspicuously quiet. More

A pair of lovely blue and gray western scrub-jays were caring for a clutch of eggs, and once alerted, I was delighted to have a ringside seat to their endeavor. I happily climbed a small ladder day after day, several times a day, to view every activity and relish every little change. I was enchanted! Eventually the jays' sitting and tending resulted in little heads poking upward for food, which both parents dutifully provided. More

the Western Scrub-Jay but has uniform underparts lacking the white throat and dark collar and more evenly colored upperparts. Pinyon Jay has blue underparts and a shorter tail. Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc. More