Western Scrub Jay
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| iWestern Scrub Jay | ||||||||||||||
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 Western Scrub Jay, coastal race with blue breast band
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| Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) |
The Western Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica) (also known as the California Jay) is a species of scrub jay native to western North America, ranging from southern Washington to central Texas and central Mexico. In recent years, it has expanded its range into the Puget Sound region of Washington. The Santa Cruz or Island Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma insularis), found only on Santa Cruz Island, is closely related. The Western, Santa Cruz and Florida Scrub Jays were once considered sub-species of a single species termed the "Scrub Jay". The Western Scrub Jay is nonmigratory and can be found in urban areas, where it can become tame and will come to bird feeders.
This species is 27-31 cm (11.5 in) long (including its tail), and weighs about 80g. Coastal Pacific birds tend to be brighter in coloration than those of the interior, but all are patterned in blue, white and gray, though none as uniform in color as the related Mexican Jay. Western Scrub Jays feed on small animals, eggs and young of other birds, insects, and (particularly in winter) nuts and berries. True to their name, Western Scrub Jays inhabit areas of low scrub, preferring pinyon-juniper forests, oak woods and sometimes mesquite bosques. They are known for hoarding and burying brightly colored objects.
Nests are built low in trees or bushes, 1m to 10m above the ground, primarily by the female while the male guards her efforts. The nests are sturdy, with an outside diameter of 33cm to 58cm, constructed on a platform of twigs with moss and dry grasses lined with fine roots and hair. Four to six eggs are laid from March through July with some regional variations. There are two common shell color variations: pale green background with irregular, olive-colored spots or markings, and pale grayish-white to green background with reddish-brown spots. The female incubates the eggs for about 16 days. The young leave the nest about 18 days after hatching.
The Western Scrub Jay is one of the species whose populations are being adversely affected by the West Nile Virus, particularly in California's Central Valley.
It is possible that the Western Scrub Jay is actually two distinct species. Birds from the interior ("Woodhouse's Scrub Jay", woodhouseii group) differ in plumage (paler blue above, and with a weakly defined breast band) and behavior from the coastal birds ("California Scrub Jay", californica group; darker blue above, and with a strongly defined blue breast band).
The Western Scrub Jay is known by many other names: California Jay, Nicasio Jay, Texas Jay, Woodhouse's Jay, Xantus Jay and Long-tailed Jay.
[edit] References and external links
- Madge, S. & Burn, H. (1993). Crows and Jays. Helm ISBN 1-873403-18-6
- Western Scrub Jay at Cornell
- Western Scrub Jay at USGS
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Aphelocoma californica. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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