Mystery Blue Bird in Glacier Natl Park (1 Viewer)

C

cmgfour

New member

• Jun 30, 2013

• #1

My daughter was hiking in Glacier National Park (Montana) on June 15th and ran across a blue bird with a black hood and long tail. Sorry this picture is not very good. It was approx a foot tall maybe taller. It flow around us several times and then stopped on these rocks. Can anyone identify this bird? They had a run in with a grizzly bear just prior to bird showing up and were in a hurry to get down to Avalanche Lake. Thanks.

 

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RJP

Well-known member

• Jun 30, 2013

• #2

All I'm getting from the pic is blue tail and back, black head. Best guess - Stellar's Jay. They are pretty close to 12".

 

Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

• Jun 30, 2013

• #3

Hi and welcome to BirdForum. Your daughter photographed a Steller's Jay, a common western species related to the eastern Blue Jay.

 

Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

• Jun 30, 2013

• #4

Pet peeve/nitpick: The correct spelling is "Steller's", with two "e"s.

 

G

Gretchen

Well-known member

• Jun 30, 2013

• #5

Microtus said:

Pet peeve/nitpick: The correct spelling is "Steller's", with two "e"s.

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Hmm, I'll have to remember they aren't as "stellar" of a sighting as I thought. (I am a terrible speller - but this might help me remember.)

 

F

fugl

Well-known member

• Jun 30, 2013

• #6

Steller's Jay has got to be the most commonly misspelled bird name on the North American list, or am I overlooking something?

 

Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

• Jun 30, 2013

• #7

fugl said:

Steller's Jay has got to be the most commonly misspelled bird name on the North American list, or am I overlooking something?

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Nope. Steller's Eider is much less commonly encountered. |=)|

 

J

jellis

Active member

• Jul 1, 2013

• #8

Yes I agree, long tail, dark blue, dark hood with crest and makes a racket. In the Bay Area you commonly see Scrub Jays hanging out with them in the parks and forest near urban areas, so you have double the racket.