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Photo by Leslie
Photo taken: California, USA.

Aphelocoma californica

[edit] Identification:

11-13" (28-33 cm). Robin-sized, but large strong bill and long tail make it appear larger. Head, wings, and tail blue (conspicuous when it glides in a long, undulating flight); back dull brown; underparts light gray. No crest; dusky face mask. White throat offset by incomplete blue necklace.

There are two distinct populations, with no range overlap. Members of the Pacific population, shown in the photo by Leslie, have more vivid colors and markings than birds further east: darker blue in back, tail, and head, whiter underside plumage, and more distinct eyebrow and facial marking contrast. The Pacific bird is also bolder in behavior than interior birds.

[edit] Distribution

Resident from Washington, Wyoming, and Colorado south to Texas; also in Mexico.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Scrub oak, woodlands, and chaparral, but does not breed in low scrub because it needs watch posts; also inhabits suburban gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

Nesting: 3-6 eggs, spotted on darker, greenish or reddish base, in a twiggy nest well hidden in a tree or dense shrub. Voice: Call is loud, throaty jayy? or jree? In flight, a long series of check-check-check notes.

Like all jays, this species may be secretive and silent around its nest or while perching in a treetop in early morning but is frequently noisy and conspicuous. Scrub jays often eat the eggs or young of other birds, but in summer they are mainly insectivorous. These birds also eat acorns and have been described as "uphill planters," counter-balancing the tendency of acorns to bounce or roll downhill. The jays bury many more acorns than they consume and help regenerate oak forests that have been destroyed by fire or drought.

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