Steller's Jay

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Steller's Jay | image = Cyanocitta stelleriFJ03P04CA.JPG | image_width = 200px | image_caption = Portrait by Bob Hines, USFWS | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Aves | ordo = Passeriformes | familia = Corvidae | genus = Cyanocitta | species = C. stelleri | binomial = Cyanocitta stelleri | binomial_authority = (Gmelin, 1788) | range_map = Cyanocitta_stelleri_map.jpg | range_map_width = 250px | range_map_caption = Steller's Jay range }}

The Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is a jay of western North America, closely related to the Blue Jay found in the rest of the continent, but having a black head and upper body. It is also known as the long-crested jay, the mountain jay, and the pine jay. It is the only crested jay west of the Rocky Mountains.

The Steller's Jay shows a great deal of regional variation throughout its range. The general trend is for blackish-brown-headed birds from the north gradually becoming bluer headed the further south you go. It has a more slender bill and longer legs than the blue jay and has a much more pronounced crest. The head is blackish-brown with light blue streaks on the forehead. This dark colouring gives way from the shoulders and lower breast to silvery blue. The wing primaries and tail are a rich blue with darker barring.

It occurs over virtually the whole of the western side of North America from Alaska in the north, to Central America in the far south and east to south-western Texas, completely replacing the Blue Jay in most of those areas, with a report of some hybridization with the Blue Jay in Colorado. It lives in coniferous and mixed woodland but not in completely dense forest without any open spaces. It typically flies in flocks of more than 10.

Food is taken from both the ground and in trees taking the usual wide range of seeds, nuts, berries and other fruit. Many types of invertebrates, eggs and nestlings are taken and acorns and conifer seeds form a staple at some times of the year. It is a frequent visitor at picnics and camp sites.

The nest is usually in a conifer but can sometimes be in a hollow in a tree. Similar in construction to the Blue Jay's nest, it tends to be a bit larger (25cm to 43cm), using a number of natural materials or scavenged trash, often mixed with mud. Between 2-6 eggs are laid during breeding season. The eggs are oval in shape with a somewhat glossy surface. The background color of the egg shell tends to be pale variations of greenish-blue with brown or olive colored speckles. The clutch is usually incubated entirely by the female for 17 to 18 days.

Like all jays, the calls are varied and include rattling and guttural sounds too numerous to mention. Most noticably, it gives a harsh nasal 'wah' as an alarm call. It also immitates the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk, which has the effect of causing other birds and prey creatures to vacate feeding areas as the Steller's Jays approach.

This bird is named after the German naturalist Georg Steller.

The Steller's Jay is the provincial bird of British Columbia.

A Steller's Jay in Yosemite National Park, California

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References

Template:Commonses:Chara crestada fr:Geai de Steller pl:Modrosójka czarnogłowa

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