Pinyon Jay

Pinyon Jay

Pinyon Jay: Small, crestless, stocky jay with blue-gray body. Head is darker blue and has pale streaks on throat. Tail is short. Bill, legs, feet are black. Feeds on pine seeds, grain, fruit, berries, insects and eggs and young of other birds. Steady bouyant and direct flight with deep wing beats.

● Song: "crauk-crauk", "kaa-eh"

● Foraging & Feeding: Pinyon Jay: Diet consists of nuts, pine seeds, grass seeds, berries, fruits, insects, and eggs and young of small birds; also boldly approaches human habitations for scraps. Forages in mountain conifers at elevations of 3,000 to 8,000 feet.

● Breeding & nesting: Pinyon Jay: Three to five pale blue or green eggs are laid in a twiggy cup nest; often nests in loose colonies. Incubation ranges from 16 to 17 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Pinyon Jay: Western Scrub-Jay has a longer tail, pale gray underparts, white throat outlined with a blue necklace, and brown back patch. Steller's Jay is crested and has blue upperparts and black underparts.

Flight Pattern