For those of us who live here in the San Bernardino Mountains, the Steller’s jay might be the most emblematic bird species of the region. They are common in evergreen, hardwood, and mixed forests at elevations between 3,000 – 10,000 feet in Southern California. However, this species is remarkably adaptable and ranges from Central America to Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.
Sometimes mistakenly called Stellars jay, this bird was named after German naturalist, Georg Wilhelm Steller, who originally described it in 1741. Steller, a prolific explorer, was the first to describe numerous species along the coast of the Pacific Northwest, including Steller’s eider, Steller’s sea eagle, and Steller’s sea cow (a relative of the manatee that was hunted to extinction less than 30 years after its discovery).
Steller's jay is striking in appearance, with a black back and head adorned with a dramatic crest, and brilliant blue wings, tail, and underparts. There is significant variation in the species’ appearance throughout its range. For example, the population in Central America lacks the prominent crest we see in the US.
This jay is a member of the family Corvidae, which also includes crows, ravens, and magpies. And like other members of their family, they are clever birds and are highly adaptive. They can be found in a variety of habitats and their diet can best be described as eclectic. They eat pretty much anything, including insects, seeds, berries, nuts, acorns, small animals, eggs, and nestlings. That last item (nestlings) doesn’t exactly endear them to some birdwatchers, but nature can seem cruel sometimes.
If you have a feeder in your yard, you may have noticed that Steller’s can be bullies toward other species, sometimes actually stealing food from them. Scientists call this behavior “kleptoparasitism!” Whatever way you may want to describe their dining manners, they can, and often do, take over the backyard feeder. Don't be surprised, however, if you see an acorn woodpecker dive-bombing a Steller's jay. These woodpeckers can be quite aggressive and even drive off jays, possibly due to the fact that they both compete for acorns.
Along with ravens, Steller’s Jays are among the most vocal birds in the region (although the acorn woodpecker could give them a good run for their money). Other than mockingbirds, I can’t think of another species that makes such a wide variety of sounds. Roger Tory Peterson, in his Field Guide to Western Birds describes their vocalizations as “shook-shook-shook or shack-shack-shack or whek-wek-wek-wek or kweesh kweesh kweesh and many other notes.” They also sometimes mimic the call of a red-tailed hawk or a golden eagle. Not coincidentally, a flock of Steller’s Jays is known as a “scold.”
Steller’s jays are so prevalent that we may be tempted to relegate them to the background sights and sounds of our environment, paying them little mind. But the next time you see (or hear) a Steller’s jay, I hope you’ll recognize they are an active contributor to the unique qualities of life in the mountains.
Comments