Steller's Jay, Cyanocitta stelleri
Anyone who has camped in the mountains of California knows this bird well. They congregate around campgrounds boldly snatching scraps or your unattended lunch. The Steller's jay is a very showy deep blue with a black crest. They use this crest to communicate. The Steller's jay is closely related to the eastern Blue Jay.
Niche filled by the Steller's Jay
The Steller's jay lives in dense coniferous forest and takes advantage of human populations.
How to attract the Steller's Jay to your garden
Steller's jays will come to your garden if you are near a coniferous forest and have high and dense cover for them.
Range of the Steller's Jay
The Steller's Jay prefers dense coniferous forest areas in California.
Migration of the Steller's Jay
The Steller's Jay does not migrate. However, they will move down slope in winter except when there is an abundance of campers, and therefore, food.
Diet of the Steller's Jay
The Steller's jay eats almost everything. These things include seeds, acorns, fruits, insects, carrion, bird eggs, young birds, and of course camp scraps.
Habitat/ plant community Steller's Jay
The Steller's Jay prefers dense coniferous forests. They seem to not like lodgepole pine forest.
Nesting habitats used by the Steller's Jay
The Steller's jay usually nests in a conifer. They are very secretive nesters. Usually they are quite a loud bird but they are silent around their nests.
Diet of the Steller's Jay
The Steller's jay eats almost everything. These things include seeds, acorns, fruits, insects, carrion, bird eggs, young birds, and of course camp scraps.
