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ViewsWestern Scrub JayFrom Opus(Redirected from Western Scrub-Jay)
Alternative names: California Scrub-Jay (nominate group); Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay (woodhouseii group); Sumichrast's Scrub-Jay (sumichrasti group)
[edit] Identification:11-13" (28-33 cm)
[edit] VariationsThere are three distinct populations, with slight range overlap. Members of the Pacific population (group californica), 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. The interior birds (group woodhouseii) have a less contrasting breast band, and a straight bill that is thinner and lacks hook near the tip. The southern birds (group sumichrasti) are larger, have bluer backs and whiter throats (when compared with woodhouseii) and a hooked bill. [edit] DistributionResident from Washington, Wyoming, Utah South of the Wasatch Front, and Colorado south to Texas; also in Mexico, almost to the isthmus. [edit] Taxonomy[edit] SubspeciesCurrently recognized are 15 subspecies falling in three main groups[2]:
Group woodhouseii is mainly east of the Rockies and also include several subspecies; overlaps with previous group in western Nevada (Pine Nut Mountains)
Group sumichrasti is an internal group limited to Mexico, and includes remota
These three groups have in the past been considered separate species, and may become full species again (especially the split between californica and woodhouseii seems likely). [edit] HabitatGroup californica: scrub oak, woodlands, and chaparral, but does not breed in low scrub because it needs watch posts; also inhabits suburban gardens. The woodhouseii group has a preference for pinyon-juniper woodland but is also found in open oak and pine-oak woodlands. The sumichrasti group occurs in a variety of open woodland and brushy environs. [edit] BehaviourLike 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. [edit] FlightGlides in a long, undulating flight. [edit] DietMainly insectivorous but will eat the eggs or young of other birds. They also eat and bury acorns. [edit] BreedingThe clutch consists of 3-6 eggs, spotted on darker, greenish or reddish base, in a twiggy nest well hidden in a tree or dense shrub. [edit] VocalisationCall: is loud, throaty jayy? or jree? [edit] References
[edit] External Links
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