California Scrub-Jay

The California Scrub-Jay is a crestless jay with vivid blue head, wings, and tail, a gray-brown back, and pale grayish-white underparts crossed by a distinct blue necklace across the upper breast. A pale eyebrow stripe and grayish cheek patch complete its face pattern.

This species was split from the Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay (formerly combined as the Western Scrub-Jay) in 2016 based on differences in habitat, plumage, and genetics. It is a common, conspicuous resident of oak woodlands and suburban areas along the Pacific coast, well known for its close ecological relationship with oak trees, whose acorns it caches by the thousands each fall.

Key Field Marks

• No crest, unlike Steller's or Blue Jay
• Bright blue head, wings, and tail
• Gray-brown back
• Pale gray-white underparts with a distinct blue necklace band across the chest
• Whitish eyebrow stripe

Similar Species

• Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay is very similar but appears slightly paler and grayer overall with a less defined necklace, and occupies interior pinyon-juniper habitat rather than coastal oak woodland; the two species' ranges meet but rarely overlap.
• Steller's Jay has a prominent black crest and much darker, sootier head, easily distinguishing it from the crestless scrub-jay.

Habitat

California Scrub-Jays favor oak woodland, chaparral, coastal scrub, and are highly adaptable to suburban gardens, parks, and backyards throughout their range.

Range

Found along the Pacific coast and adjacent lowlands from southern Washington through California into Baja California, generally west of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades.

Migration

This species is non-migratory, with pairs typically maintaining a permanent territory year-round.

Behavior

California Scrub-Jays are bold, intelligent, and territorial, famous for their extensive fall caching of acorns, burying thousands each season and later relocating most with excellent spatial memory, an important process for oak forest regeneration.

Voice

Calls include a harsh, scratchy check or shreep, along with various rattles and softer notes used between mates.

Feeding

Acorns are a dietary staple, especially in fall and winter, supplemented by insects, other seeds and fruit, and occasionally eggs or nestlings of smaller birds.

Nesting

Pairs build a twig nest in a shrub or low tree; the female incubates 3-6 pale green, brown-spotted eggs while the male provides food, and both parents feed the young.