Species insider - Steller's Jay

Steller's Jay

Cyanocitta stelleri ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: CORVIDAE

A large, dark jay of evergreen forests in the mountainous West. Steller’s Jays are common in forest wildernesses but are also fixtures of campgrounds, parklands, and backyards, where they are quick to spy bird feeders as well as unattended picnic items. When patrolling the woods, Steller’s Jays stick to the high canopy, but you’ll hear their harsh, scolding calls if they’re nearby. Graceful and almost lazy in flight, they fly with long swoops on their broad, rounded wings.

Keys to identification Help

Crows and Jays

Typical Voice

• Size and Shape

  Steller’s Jays are large songbirds with large heads, chunky bodies, rounded wings, and a long, full tail. The bill is long, straight, and powerful, with a slight hook. Steller’s Jays have a prominent triangular crest that often stands nearly straight up from their head.

• Color Pattern

  At a distance, Steller’s Jays are very dark jays, lacking the white underparts of most other species. The head is charcoal black and the body is all blue (lightest, almost sparkling, on the wings). White markings above the eye are fairly inconspicuous.

• Behavior

  Like other jays, Steller’s Jays are bold, inquisitive, intelligent, and noisy. Steller’s Jays spend much of their time exploring the forest canopy, flying with patient wingbeats. They come to the forest floor to investigate visitors and look for food, moving with decisive hops of their long legs.

• Habitat

  Look for Steller’s Jays in evergreen forests of western North America, at elevations of 3,000-10,000 feet (lower along the Pacific coast). They’re familiar birds of campgrounds, picnic areas, parks, and backyards.

  Field MarksHelp

      

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    Steller's Jay

    Adult Pacific form

    • Blue body, wings, and tail
    • Prominent dark blackish crest
    • Blue wings with black barring
    • Blackish face without white
    • © John Riutta, Scappoose, Oregon, May 2008
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    Steller's Jay

    Adult Pacific form

    • Medium length, heavy bill
    • Blackish face and long blackish crest
    • Grayish black back
    • Blue body, wings, and tail
    • © Bob Scott, British Columbia, Canada, June 2009
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    Steller's Jay

    Adult Pacific form

    • Blue body, wings, and tail
    • Blackish face and long blackish crest
    • Moderately long square blue tail
    • Strong black bill
    • © quasimodo4502, San Francisco, California, November 2008
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    Steller's Jay

    Adult

  
  

  Range Map Help

   Range map by www.eBird.com 
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• Similar Species

  

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  Adult

  • Pale gray underparts
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  • Pale face with black patterning and collar
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  • Blue crest and back
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  • Wings and tail blue with white and black markings

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  © Gary Mueller, December 2008

  
  

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    Blue Jay

    Adult

    • Pale gray underparts
    • Pale face with black patterning and collar
    • Blue crest and back
    • Wings and tail blue with white and black markings
    • © Gary Mueller, December 2008
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    Western Scrub-Jay

    Adult

    • No crest
    • Blue crown, nape, wings, and tail
    • White, striped throat
    • Pale gray underparts
    • Grayish or brownish back
    • © lee.karney2, San Francisco, California, February 2007
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    Pinyon Jay

    Adult

    • Pale blue overall
    • No crest
    • Fairly short tail
    • © David F. Smith
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    Western Scrub-Jay

    Adult

    • No crest
    • Blue crown, nape, wings, and tail
    • White, striped throat
    • Pale gray underparts
    • Grayish or brownish back
    • © lee.karney2, San Francisco, California, February 2007