Steller's Jay

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Steller's Jay
The Steller’s Jay is a common and conspicuous denizen of the West. Its range largely coincides with the coniferous forests of the West, as well as the Douglas Fir forests of Wyoming and Montana. This jay, which is especially common in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado, is absent from desert areas and the Great Basin. On the West Coast, Steller’s Jays may range from sea level to tree line, but within the continent they generally range in altitude from 3,000 feet to 10,000 feet. Over much of its range, the Steller’s Jay is found at lower altitudes than the Clark's Nutcracker and at higher altitudes than the Western Scrub-Jay, although there is much overlap. This jay is usually nonmigratory throughout its range, but high-altitude populations typically move to lower altitudes during winter. Food shortages may cause widespread irruptions of immature Steller’s Jays.
Steller's Jay Range Map

Like other jays, the Steller's Jay consumes a wide variety of foods, including small vertebrates and arthropods, seeds, berries, nuts, and especially acorns and pine seeds when available. They commonly take the eggs and nestlings of small birds, and they have even been observed attacking and eating adult birds. In turn, Steller’s Jays are heavily preyed upon by accipters. Normally a shy and wary bird that feeds mostly in treetops, the Steller’s Jay can become accustomed to humans at campgrounds and picnic areas.

Description: The dusky head and body, blue wings and tail, and prominent crest make this jay easy to identify. The Steller’s Jay and its eastern counterpart, the familiar Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), are the only crested jays in North America, and the only New World jays with barred wing and tail feathers.

Male and female Steller’s Jays look similar. The head and upper breast are brownish or grayish black to jet black, becoming somewhat paler on the back and sides of the neck. The underparts below the breast are greenish blue turning brighter blue at the vent and under the tail. Wings are bright purplish blue to sky blue on the primaries, with narrow black barring; the rump and tail are bright blue with black barring becoming more prominent toward the end. Under the wings and tail is gray.

There is substantial geographical variation in coloration and crest length. North American birds in general have blacker heads and backs and longer crests than the Central American birds. Steller’s Jays in the Northwest and Pacific coastal areas tend to have forehead feathers tipped with light blue and whitish streaks on the chin and throat. Interior North American races have a blacker head and crest with whitish streaks in the crest and a white spot above the eye.

Steller’s Jay has the most extensive range of any North American jay, from Alaska along the coast to central California, and through the Rocky Mountains and high mountain areas of Central America to Nicaragua.

Visit Shaw Creek Bird Supply to see our selection of Steller's Jay Feeders.