Cyanocitta stelleri and the Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata, are a classic example of allopatric speciation, with the Rocky Mountain Range being the probable source of divergence. Hybrids have been known to occur along the central United States within the Great Plains region. The zone of hybridization is maintained through a "sink" mechanism known as dynamic equilibrium (Greene et al 1998).
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Cyanocitta stelleri is neither endangered nor threatened according to any of the organizations involved with biodiversity and conservation.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Since Cyanocitta stelleri are often observed scavenging at picnic and campsites within their habitats, there exists the possibility of being considered as a nuisance (Greene et al 1998; National Geographic Society 1987).
Cyanocitta stelleri do not have any strong economic/agricultural contributions, though their consumption of insects may have an impact on pest control.
Cyanocitta stelleri are omnivorous, with a diet consisting primarily of nuts, pine seeds and acorns. Like other corvids, Steller's Jays eat the eggs of other birds. Foraging takes place on the ground and within the trees. Scavenging is also known to take place, most of which occurs within developed areas and campgrounds. During winter, C. stelleri depend upon seeds and nuts, though they may also scavenge and even prey upon small invertebrates that happen to be active within the habitat at the time (Greene et al 1998; Kaufman 1996; Sieving et al 1999).
Starting from the southern coast of Alaska, the range extends continuously southward through the Rocky Mountain region of the western United States into Mexico, and scatters through Central America, terminating in north-central Nicaragua. The western edge of distribution lies along the Pacific coast, and reaches eastward as far as eastern Colorado (Greene et al. 1998; National Geographic Society 1987).
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); neotropical (Native )
Cyanocitta stelleri primarily reside within coniferous forests, though deciduous forests are also chosen. The altitude of habitat location ranges between 1000-3500 meters. Although C. stelleri are non-migratory birds, migration from high to lower elevation is known to take place during the winter season (Greene et al 1998; Kaufman 1996; National Geographic Society 1987; Terres 1980).
Terrestrial Biomes: taiga ; chaparral ; forest
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 193 months.
Adult C. stelleri average in length ranging from 30 to 34 cm., with a mass of 100-140 g. The wingspan varies from approximately 45 to 48 cm. Distinguishing characteristics include a black, thick, pointed bill typical of corvids. Coloration consists of dark blue/cobalt plumage throughout most of the body, including the wings, coverts and rectrices. The wings and rectrices also possess a pattern of black barring, perpendicular to the rachis of the feathers. The entire head is usually black, although certain subspecies such as C. stelleri macrolopha may have white streaks along the forehead and supercilium. Other races have even further deviations from typical C. stelleri plumage. Perhaps the most conspicuous characteristic of C. stelleri is the presence of a tall, black crest. Juveniles are distinguished by a sooty gray coloring on the head and body, as well as a shorter crest. The sexes are nearly monomorphic, with the exception of fainter and narrower bars in the barring pattern of females (Green et al. 1998; National Geographic Society 1987; Rue III 1970; Terres 1980).
Range mass: 100 to 140 g.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Steller's Jays are monogamous. They perform a display upon initial encounters called Sexual Sidling. After a mate has been selected, both individuals participate in selecting a site and building the nest. The nest is a cup structure, typically made up of mud and durable material such as thick plant fibers, twigs and rootlets. The location of the nest is above the ground within trees. The height usually ranges between 3-12 m., though lower nests have been found. Females have the ability to lay one egg per day, with the clutch ranging between 2-6 eggs. The incubation time is approximately 16 days. The female may do all the incubation, although it has been claimed that males may also incubate. The rate of development of the young after hatching is not completely known, though the first molt probably takes place after 2 weeks, while flight is thought to first take place after 3 weeks (Greene et al 1998; Kaufman 1996; Terres 1980).
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous
Average eggs per season: 4.
Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is a bird native to western North America and the mountains of Central America, closely related to the blue jay found in eastern North America. It is also known as the long-crested jay, mountain jay, and pine jay. It is the only crested jay west of the Rocky Mountains. It is also sometimes colloquially called a "blue jay" in the Pacific Northwest, but is distinct from the blue jay (C. cristata) of eastern North America. The species inhabits pine-oak and coniferous forests.
Steller's jay was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the crows in the genus Corvus and coined the binomial name Corvus stelleri.[2] Gmelin based his account on "Stellers crow" that had been described in 1781 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his book A General Synopsis of Birds. Latham had examined a specimen belonging to the naturalist Joseph Banks that had been collected in Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island off the Pacific coast of Canada.[3] The specimen was one of the birds collected on Captain James Cook's third voyage to the Pacific Ocean. During this voyage Cook visited Nootka Sound from 29 March until 26 Apr 1778.[4] Steller's jay is now placed with the blue jay in the genus Cyanocitta that was introduced in 1845 by the English ornithologist Hugh Strickland.[5]
The bird is named after the German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, the first European to record them, in 1741.[6][7]
Thirteen subspecies are recognised:[5]
Steller's jay is about 30–34 cm (12–13 in) long and weighs about 100–140 g (3.5–4.9 oz). Steller's jay shows a great deal of regional variation throughout its range. Blackish-brown-headed birds from the north gradually become bluer-headed farther south.[8] The Steller's jay has a more slender bill and longer legs than the blue jay and, in northern populations, has a much more pronounced crest.[9]: 69 [10] It is also somewhat larger.
The head is blackish-brown, black, or dark blue, depending on the subspecies of the bird, with lighter streaks on the forehead. This dark coloring gives way from the shoulders and lower breast to silvery blue. The primaries and tail are a rich blue with darker barring. Birds in the eastern part of its range along the Great Divide have white markings on the head, especially over the eyes; birds further west have light blue markers and birds in the far west along the Pacific Coast have small, very faint, or no white or light markings at all.
Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is one of two species in the genus Cyanocitta, the other species being the blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata); because the two species sometimes interbreed naturally where their ranges overlap in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, their status as distinct species has been contested. There are 18 subspecies of Steller's jays ranging from Alaska to Nicaragua, with nine found north of Mexico, often with areas of low or non-existent presence of the species separating the subspecies. At least some of the variation in the species is due to different degrees of hybridization between Steller's jays (C. stelleri) and blue jays (C. cristata).[11]
The genus Cyanocitta is part of the passerine family Corvidae, which consists of the crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs, and nutcrackers.
Steller's jay occurs in most of the forested areas of western North America as far east as the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains from southern Alaska in the north to northern Nicaragua in the south[11] completely replacing the blue jay prevalent on the rest of the continent in those areas. Its density is lower in the central Rocky Mountain region (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and eastern Utah) plus the desert or scrubland areas of the Great Basin (e.g. Nevada, western Utah, southern Arizona and parts of California). Some hybridization with the blue jay in eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, especially Colorado, has been reported. It is also found in Mexico occurring through the interior highlands in northwestern Mexico as well as patchy populations in the rest of Mexico. In the northern end of its range it appears to be spreading from coastal Southeast Alaska across the Coast Mountains into southern Yukon Territory.[12]
Steller's jay is also found in Mexico's interior highlands from Chihuahua and Sonora in the northwest southward to Jalisco, as well as other patchy populations found throughout Mexico. It is also found in south-central Guatemala, northern El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.[8]
Although Steller's jay primarily lives in coniferous forests, it can be found in other types of forests as well. They can be found from low to moderate elevations, and on rare occasions to as high as the tree line. Steller's jays are common in residential and agricultural areas with nearby forests.[13]
Western-variety Steller's jay, with all-dark head, in Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
Steller's jay on Pebble Beach, California, USA.
Steller's jays are omnivores; their diet is about two-thirds plant matter and one-third animal matter. They gather food both from the ground and from trees. Steller's jay's diet includes a wide range of seeds, nuts, berries and other fruit. They also eat many types of invertebrates, small rodents, eggs, and nestlings such as those of the marbled murrelet. There are some accounts of them eating small reptiles, both snakes and lizards.[13]
Acorns and conifer seeds are staples during the non-breeding season; these are often cached in the ground or in trees for later consumption. They exploit human-provided food sources, frequently scavenging picnics and campsites, where it competes with the Canada jay.
Steller's jays will visit feeders and prefer black-oil sunflower seeds, white striped sunflower seeds, cracked corn, shelled raw peanuts, and are especially attracted to whole raw peanuts. Suet is also consumed but mostly in the winter season.
Steller's jays breed in monogamous pairs.[14] The clutch is usually incubated entirely by the female for about 16 days.[15] The male feeds the female during this time. Though they are known to be loud both day and night, during nesting they are quiet in order to not attract attention.[16]
The nest is usually in a conifer, but is sometimes built in a hollow in a tree or beneath the awning of a house or other structure. Similar in construction to the blue jay's nest, it tends to be a bit larger (25 to 43 cm (9.8 to 16.9 in)), using a number of natural materials or scavenged trash, often mixed with mud. Between two and six eggs are laid during breeding season. The eggs are oval in shape with a somewhat glossy surface. The background colour of the egg shell tends to be pale variations of greenish-blue with brown- or olive-coloured speckles.
Like other jays, the Steller's jay has numerous and variable vocalizations. One common call is a harsh "SHACK-Sheck-sheck-sheck-sheck-sheck" series; another "skreeka! skreeka!" call sounds almost exactly like an old-fashioned pump handle; yet another is a soft, breathy "hoodle hoodle" whistle. Its alarm call is a harsh, nasal "wah". Some calls are sex-specific: females produce a rattling sound, while males make a high-pitched "gleep gleep".
The Steller's jay is also a noted mimic: it can imitate the vocalizations of many species of birds, other animals, and sounds of non-animal origin. It often will imitate the calls from birds of prey such as the red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, and osprey as a warning of danger to others or territorial behavior, causing other birds to seek cover and flee feeding areas.[11][13]
Steller's jays have the ability to assess risk using different predator detection cues. They have many alarm calls that are dependent on their interaction between predator identity and cue type. Steller's jays respond to sharp-shinned hawks with a longer latency to return to feeding whether they are both seen or heard. In contrast to Steller's jays, sharp-shinned hawks responded to northern goshawks with a longer latency to resume feeding if they were seen in comparison to only heard. The difference in reactions suggest that this is a distinct risk of assessment being conducted by the Steller's jays. Steller's jays will then vary the production of their "wah", "wek", and mimic red-tailed hawk calls in response to different detection cues. [17]
The Steller's jay is the provincial bird of the Canadian province of British Columbia.[18]
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is a bird native to western North America and the mountains of Central America, closely related to the blue jay found in eastern North America. It is also known as the long-crested jay, mountain jay, and pine jay. It is the only crested jay west of the Rocky Mountains. It is also sometimes colloquially called a "blue jay" in the Pacific Northwest, but is distinct from the blue jay (C. cristata) of eastern North America. The species inhabits pine-oak and coniferous forests.
