Birds of the Table Rocks

Western Scrub Jay

Aphelocoma californica

Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles
© 1999 California Academy of Sciences

Western Scrub Jay

Aphelocoma californica

Gerald and Buff Corsi
© 2001 California Academy of Sciences

I am robin-sized, but have a large strong bill and long tail making me look larger. My head, wings, and tail are blue. My back is a dull brown and my underside is light gray. My call is a loud, throaty jayy? or jree? In flight, I give a long series of check-check-check notes.

I live in the Oak Savanna, Chaparral, and Mixed Woodland communities on Table Rocks.

Like all jays, I can be secretive and silent around my nest or while perching in a treetop in early morning, but I am frequently noisy and conspicuous. I love to eat the eggs or young of other birds, but in summer I eat mostly insects. I also eat acorns. I may bury many more acorns than I consume and help to plant oak forests that have been destroyed by fire or drought.

I can lay three to six eggs, spotted on darker, greenish or reddish base, in a twiggy nest well hidden in a tree or dense shrub.

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