Steller's Jay in Saskatchewan? (1 Viewer)

[sammyjay]

One day observing Blue Jays eating oats spilled on the ground I saw a Blue Jay-like jay with a black head. I thought it was a Steller's Jay but now I wonder why or if it would come. Steller's Jays do not live in my area but rather live in British Columbia and western Alberta and not in Saskatchewan. Does anybody know if they come to Saskatchewan?

ETA: Sorry, I forgot to put Canada in the thread title.

 

[steveo]

On a quick seach I found it on this birds of Saskatchewan page. A bit over half way down. http://www.whatbird.com/browse/objs/All/birds_na_147/38/Location/272/Saskatchewan

 

[walternewton]

FWIW my Sibley Guide shows a "green dot" in Saskatchwan for Steller's Jay, indicating "rare occurrence".

They're pretty distinctive, if you got a good look I think you can trust your ID (note they can hybridize with Blue Jays where ranges overlap as well).

 

[sammyjay]

:t:Thank you for all your help. Now I can be sure of my identification :t:

 

[Jim M.]

eBird has no reports at all of Steller's Jay in Saskatchewan: http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?repo...states&continue.x=51&continue.y=13&continue=t

That suggests it would be not only rare but accidental. Also, green dot in Sibley means more than just rare IIRC--it suggests only a few records for the area. BNA says "Casual east to s. Saskatchewan".

I'd suggest jotting down anything you can remember about your sighting. You might want to submit it to a provincial bird records committee at some point. Even better would be to return and see if you can get a photo.

Best,
Jim

 

[walternewton]

Also, green dot in Sibley means more than just rare IIRC--it suggests only a few records for the area.

The specific wording in the book says "Green dots represent locations of rare occurrence"; and goes on to say that "may be a single record or up to a few records a year".

FWIW the University of Regina/Canadian Plains Research Center online "Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan" here says Steller's Jays are "rare strays" in Saskatchewan.

 

[james holdsworth]

In dealing with records of potential vagrant birds, caution and a thorough respect for precise note-taking [or other forms of verification] is warranted IMO.

 

[borealowl47]

Checked out Saskbirds yahoo group and Steller's Jays are reported twice since
2004.

 

[mrmanning]

I'd try to get back out and see if you can re-find! That's a super cool sighting and an awesome record if you can firm it up.

 

[sammyjay]

I'll try to find the Steller's Jay again if I can and hopefully get a good picture and prove it was here.

 

[Magskall]

Hi, I am not even what you would call an amateur bird watcher but have been gaining an interest because of my Mum and her husband's intense interest in bird watching.
I live in Saskatoon, SK Canada but am originally from the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. I saw a bird outside St. Paul's Hospital that looked rather like a a Stellar's Jay. The overall size and head shape were like a Stellars, but with the sunlight it was hard to get a good look at the colouration. In the morning's light it looked more charcoal grey instead of blue. It made two calls that sounded like what I heard on the Blue Jay page, the "Jay-jay-jert" and the "hawk alarm".
I tried to get a picture with my iPhone but it took off before I could get close enough. It definitely looked more like a Stellar's Jay, a bird I know well growing up in BC.
If they are coming out eastward, could it be that they are being out competed in BC by the invading starlings?

 

[sammyjay]

What you saw was probably a Steller's Jay, my mom thinks that there was more than one in the yard that year. I don't think they could be outcompeted really, as Blue Jays make a cup nest of twigs and grass instead of using cavities, and Steller's Jays probably do the same or similar. However, I don't really know.


Nathan