Bird ID. 7/2/22 USA, West Coast (1 Viewer)

[swjohn1513]

I had a bird that I have not seen before in my backyard. Before I could grab my camera the beautiful little bird flew off. I have searched and cannot find a picture of this bird. The closest ID I could compare is a Steller Jay. The difference is coloring. The entire body was grey, lighter towards the tail and darker towards the head. The head and beak was a jet black with the pronounced "crown" on it's head just like the Steller Jay. Thank you in advance for helping to ID.

 

[Microtus]

Welcome, swjohn. Can you be a little more specific as to the location?

 

[swjohn1513]

Douglas County, Oregon.

 

[connorco]

I might suggest checking out Canada Jay. Coloration and pattern seems to match.

 

[Butty]

. . . Canada Jay. Coloration and pattern seems to match.

But that species' largely- and contrastingly-white head would very not match 'head and beak was a jet black'. Nor does 'pronounced "crown" on it's head' fit Canada jay. Hence the OP's bird seems more like Steller's jay - but the blue parts of the plumage were incorrectly registered (for reasons of lighting or otherwise).

 

[swjohn1513]

So picture quality is not great. Little bugger doesn't stay still for long.

 

[KC Foggin]

It's definitely shaped like a Jay but coming from the east coast I've never seen one of these.

 

[AveryBartels]

Black Phoebe

 

[Butty]

The entire body was grey, lighter towards the tail and darker towards the head.

🤔👍🏻

 

[Ruff-Leg]

So picture quality is not great. Little bugger doesn't stay still for long. View attachment 1456203View attachment 1456204

BLPH.

 

[swjohn1513]

Thanks to everyone for there help in identifying this bird. It is indeed a Black Phoebe. My family has lived on this property for 60+ years and none of us can recall seeing this type of bird before.

 

[Microtus]

Chiming in with Black Phoebe