Found in scrub (especially oak, pinyon and juniper), brush, chaparral
, and pine/oak associations.
When not breeding, also found in riparian woodlands, gardens, orchards,
and lowland brushy areas. Aphelocoma
californica
(Western
Scrub Jay)
Physical
Description:
11-13"
(28-33 cm). Head, wings, and tail blue; back gray; breast whitish with incomplete
blue necklace.
Similar Species- Gray-breasted Jay, Pinyon Jay
Song:
A
coarse, squeaky iennk.
Distribution:
Resident
from southwestern Washington, southwestern Wyoming, Colorado, and central Texas,
south through southwestern U.S. to southern Baja California and Oaxaca, Mexico.
Also resides in central Florida.
Habitat:
Found in scrub
(especially oak, pinyon and juniper), brush, chaparral, and pine/oak associations.
When not breeding, also found in riparian woodlands, gardens, orchards,
and lowland brushy areas.
Diet:
Feeds on nuts (acorns, pinyon),
grains (corn, oats), fruits, insects (wasps, bees, caterpillars, cutworms, grasshoppers,
etc.), mollusks, eggs and young of small birds, mice, shrews, frogs, and lizards.
Ecology:
Builds cup-shaped
nest in deciduous (occasionally coniferous) tree; will sometimes nest in shrub.
Forages on ground. caches food, particularly nuts.
Travels alone or in small family groups. In Florida, a similar species, groups
of related birds defend year-round territories.
Reproduction:
Female incubates 2-7 eggs (usually 4-6),
for 16 days. Young are tended by parents and (in Florida) young of previous
brood. Young leave nest at about
18 days, and first breed as early as 1 yr in some areas, 2+ yr in Florida and
on Santa Cruz Island, California. Adults form long-term pair bond. There is
a high adult survivorship.
Conservation:
Element
Code:
ABPAV06040
U.S.
ESA Status:
LT
Status:
Protected
nongame species
Global
Rank:
G5
State
Rank:
S2
National
Rank:
N3
Important
State References:
No references are available at this time.