General

Steller's Jay: Large crested jay with a black head and crest and a blue body. Head has slight white eyebrow, forehead, and chin spots. Wings and tail are blue with black bars. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Steller's Jay: Largely a resident from coastal southern Alaska east through British Columbia and southward from the Pacific Coast to the Rocky Mountains, south through Mexico and into Central America. Wanders further east during winters, as far as western Kansas. Preferred habitats include coniferous or deciduous forests.

Breeding and Nesting

Steller's Jay: Two to six light blue green or green blue eggs marked with brown are laid in a neat, twiggy nest lined with small roots and fibers, usually well hidden in a shady conifer. Incubation ranges from 16 to 18 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Steller's Jay: Diet consists of nuts, pine seeds, acorns, small invertebrates, and bird eggs; also scavenges around human habitations; forages on the ground or in trees and shrubs.

Readily Eats

Cracked Corn, Suet, Sunflower Seed

Vocalization

Steller's Jay: Calls include "shaack, shaack, shack" and "shooka, shooka" notes. Often mimics calls of other birds, including loons and hawks.

Similar Species

Steller's Jay: Blue Jay has a purple gray crest and back, pale gray underparts, and black collar extends around its body from breast to nape.