Stellar's Jay Bird Watching

Latin Name: Cyanocitta stelleri
Size: 12" - 13 1/2"
Color: Front half of body sooty black, rear vibrant blue. Black cross barring on wings and tail.
Voice: Harsh, metallic chack chack chack.
Habitat: Coniferous and oak forests.
Range: Western United States.
Bird feeder? The Stellar's Jay is a determined scavenger and will likely try to eat anything offered in your bird feeder. However, because of its large size, it may find perching on small bird feeders very difficult.

This king of the Jay Birds never fails to wow beginning bird watchers. Its assured demeanour and regal size are truly wonderful. The Stellar's Jay is the only western jay with a crested head. It lays three to five green spotted eggs in a bowl made of stems set in a conifer. The Stellar's Jay is a bird which has adapted remarkably well to human encroachment, and they are particularly at home in forest campsites. Sitting in the branches of a tree, they await their chance to partake of any fallen scraps.

Though very silent when near their nest site, Stellar's Jays have a very distinct metallic voice. If you are new to birding, you may believe you are hearing a man-made sound rather than a bird call. A glimpse of this majestic bird through bird watching binoculars may reveal to you that Stellar's Jays have widely varying forehead markings.

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