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Steller's Jay

Cyanocitta stelleri

Photo by joanbstanley
Published on Project Noah
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35.7964, -105.801

Field Notes

Description:

Steller’s Jays are large songbirds with large heads, chunky bodies, rounded wings, and a long, full tail. The bill is long, straight, and powerful, with a slight hook. Steller’s Jays have a prominent triangular crest that often stands nearly straight up from their head.
At a distance, Steller’s Jays are very dark jays, lacking the white underparts of most other species. The head is charcoal black and the body is all blue (lightest, almost sparkling, on the wings). White markings above the eye are fairly inconspicuous.

Habitat:

Area near Santa Fe Ski Lodge in pine forest of Sangre de Cristo Mountains at 10,000 ft.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

I had read that and seen photos in guides, but I haven' t seen the coastal form. I think the white gives these guys an interesting expression.
Ours on the coast have no white markings. I noticed in a field guide, that is a Rocky mountain population trait. So I learned something

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