The Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) recently reviewed the Western Scrub-Jay’s status, and they decided to split off two of the subspecies into two “new†species, the California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) and Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay (A. woodhouseii). This decision had been anticipated for several years because the two former subspecies barely overlapped their ranges, and hybridization was rare. The split was based on several consistent differences between the two species such as voice, habitat, behavior, and morphology. This is an exciting discovery because it adds to our understanding of the diversity of the Scrub-Jay family.
The California Scrub-Jay has expanded its range into Western Washington, which is a new development. The California Scrub-Jay is the more coastal species and has a darker overall color. Its blue is deeper and contrasts with the white belly, and its back is gray. It has a sharply-defined breast band. In contrast, the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay is a duller blue with grayish underparts, a grayish-blue back, and a faint breast band. This is an interesting observation because it shows how species can adapt and evolve to new environments over time.
These two species share the genus Aphelocoma with the Florida Scrub-Jay (A. coerulescens), the Island Scrub-Jay (A. insularis), and the Mexican Jay (A. untramarina). Aphelocoma means smooth hair, from the Greek, apheles, smooth, and kome, hair of the head, referring to the fact that these birds have no crest. This is a fascinating fact because it highlights the etymology of the Scrub-Jay family name.
The California Scrub-Jay has an omnivorous diet that includes grasshoppers, beetles, bees, wasps, ants, caterpillars, and other insects. In winter, it eats acorns and seeds. At times, it will eat other birds’ eggs and sometimes nestlings. The California Scrub-Jay scatterhoards surplus food items for later consumption. These caches can consist of acorns, animal parts, human food such as French fries, and non-food objects. The birds do not recover all of their caches, allowing acorns and seeds to sprout, thus aiding the dispersal of future food sources. This is a fascinating behavior because it shows how the California Scrub-Jay contributes to the ecosystem in which it lives.
The California Scrub-Jay is a permanent resident of its territory, which a mated pair will defend year-round. It usually nests in oak trees but will also use other trees. Both 𝓈ℯ𝓍es build the nest about 20 feet above the ground. Usually, 4-5 eggs are deposited and incubated only by the female. The hatchlings are 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 nɑƙeɗ and dependent and require regular feeding by parents for up to two months after fledging. First flight is usually several weeks after fledging. In the fall and through the winter, immature birds accompany the parents and are often joined by floaters (non-breeding adults) forming flocks of up to 20 birds. Populations of California Scrub-Jays are stable, and no conservation measures are used. This is good news because it indicates that the species is thriving and does not need any intervention to maintain its population.
