The California scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica) is a species of scrub jay native to western North America. Dark-streaked, white throat bordered by dark necklace. However their brains are relatively large and their learning abilities are greater than those of most other birds. Northwestern crow. Scrub Jay Photo: Susan Faulker Davis . Over a year ago, the Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) was given a new common name: California Scrub-Jay. Florida scrub jay. They cache thousands of acorns in the ground each year. One study demonstrated that a single individual might remember the location of up to 200 different caches, weeks, even months later. From Vectorborne Disease Section – California Department of Public Health March 19, 2018. California is home to two new bird species — and you've seen at least one of them hundreds of times. The two species currently barely overlap in range, although they come into proximity in the western Great Basin. Steller's jay. The California Scrub-Jay californica occupies the "outer" or westernmost region of the range and Woodhouse's woodhouseii the "interior" or eastern part of the range. California scrub jay. California scrub-jays are common in parks and woodlands across coastal California, but the species also lives inland, where it presents with paler, grayer markings. California Scrub-Jay Regional Species. Most are small. The “blue jay” of dry lowlands along the Pacific seaboard, the California Scrub-Jay combines deep azure blue, clean white underparts, and soft gray-brown. Clark's nutcracker. Other crows and allies. Western Scrub-Jay name change to California Scrub-Jay. Eats grains, fruits, insects, frogs, lizards, and eggs and young of other birds. Jan Arendtsz. Unlike its California cousin, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay is mostly an uncommon bird, living in sparse woodlands of juniper and pinyon pine in arid foothills, but it does come into suburbs of some western cities. Until recently, this jay of the Interior West was considered part of the same species as the California Scrub-Jay; the two were officially “split” in July 2016. Courtesy Mark Haywood California Scrub-Jay (formerly Western Scrub-Jay) sits on a feeder. The storage of acorns is a good example of the California Scrub-Jay ability to plan and think ahead. Bill, legs, feet are black. Chihuahuan raven. California Scrub-Jay: Medium, crestless jay, blue head, wings, tail, gray mask, back, pale gray underparts. 0:00 / California scrub jay (call) call. Blue jay. Black-billed magpie. Split History. Flies with steady wing beats. https://audubonportland.org/go-outside/california-scrub-jay California Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica Order: Passeriformes Members of this diverse group make up more than half of the bird species worldwide. Pinyon jay. Common raven. This crestless species is found in—you guessed it—the U.S. West. call. 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