About the California Scrub Jay
The California scrub jay is a species of scrub jay native to western North America. It ranges from southern British Columbia throughout California and western Nevada near Reno to west of the Sierra Nevada. The California scrub jay was once lumped with Woodhouse's scrub jay and collectively called the western scrub jay. IUCN and the Handbook of the Birds of the World maintain this lumped taxon. The group was also lumped with the island scrub jay and the Florida scrub jay; the taxon was then called simply scrub jay. The California scrub jay is nonmigratory and can be found in urban areas, where it can become tame and will come to bird feeders. While many refer to scrub jays as "blue jays",…
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ID tip
The California scrub jay is a medium-sized bird, approximately 27–31 cm (11–12 in) in length (including its tail), with a 39 cm (15 in) wingspan, and about 80 g (2.8 oz) in weight. In general, this species has a blue head, wings, and tail; a gray-brown back; grayish underparts; and white eyebrows. The throat is whitish with a blue necklace. The call or "squawk" is described as "harsh and angry-sounding".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the California Scrub Jay sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in April · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Woodhouse's Scrub JayAphelocoma woodhouseiiWoodhouse's scrub jay is a medium-sized bird, approximately 27–31 cm (11–12 in) in length (including its tail), with a 39 cm (15 in) wingspan, and about 80 g (2.8 oz) in weight.
Mexican JayAphelocoma wollweberiThe Mexican jay is a medium-large (~120 g) passerine similar in size to most other jays, with a blue head, blue-gray mantle, blue wings and tail, and pale gray breast and underparts.
Florida Scrub JayAphelocoma coerulescensIt measures 23 to 28 cm (9.1 to 11.0 in) in length, and weighs from 66 to 92 g (2.3 to 3.2 oz), with an average 80.2 g (2.83 oz).
Side by side: California Scrub Jay vs Woodhouse's Scrub Jay · California Scrub Jay vs Mexican Jay
Learn the California Scrub Jay for real
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