S T E L L E R ' S J AY
BY JAELLE CHAMBERS
FORAGING & FEEDING
• The Steller's Jay eats nuts, seeds,
berries, acorns, small invertebrates,
insects, nestlings, and bird eggs.
• Forages in the trees or the ground
C L A S S I F I C AT I O N & TA X O N O M Y
• The Steller Jay's bird family includes jays and crows, the Corvidae,
including 126 species in 24 genera found on all continents except
Antarctica.
• Species: C. stelleri
• Genus: Cyanocitta
• Order: Passeriformes
• Class: Aves
• Phylum: Chordata
• Kingdom: Animalia
I D E N T I F I C AT I O N
• Call - Shaack shaack shaack,
shooka shooka
• Size - Medium sized, (9-16in)
Weight: 128g (4.5oz)
• Similar Species - Blue Jay, Gray
Jay
• Field Marks - Wings and tail are
blue with black bars, as well as
white "eyebrows." It's head has
a unique feather mass which can
be plain, crested, spiked, or
plumed. Genders are similar.
REPRODUCTION
• Number of eggs are 2-6
• Eggs are pale blue with brown
flecks
• Incubation days are 16-18
• The nesting type is usually a
conifer
• Mates usually remain with each
other year-round, both of them
help build the nest and feed
their young.
• The nest is made up of pine
needles, mud, grass, twigs,
moss, and leaves.
A D A P TAT I O N S
• Adaptations - Steller's Jays
move around with hops both on
the ground and in the trees.
They often stop to quickly check
their surroundings for predators
and/or food. Jays have
enhanced spatial memories.
They also store extra food in
their caches, while also raiding
other birds' caches. It can also
mimic other calls.
NICHE/JOB
• Niche/Job - The Steller's
Jay keeps the insect/bug
population under control
by eating off insects or
bugs like mosquitos,
worms, or flies.
• It also, while in the
process of storing food
in it's cache, drops
berries, seeds, or nuts.
These will, over time,
grow into plants.
R A N G E & H A B I TAT
• Nonmigratory, lives heavily in coastal
southern Alaska and the Rocky
Mountains, all the way to Central
America.
• It's preferable habitat is in rich forests
of conifers, using the trees for food
(seeds, nuts, and acorns), nesting
places, and scouting. They will also use
pine needles for the construction of
their nests.
W E B S I T E S U S E D I N T H I S P R E S E N TAT I O N
• www.whatbird.com
• allaboutbirds.org
• wikipedia.org
• birdweb.org
• www.birdspix.com
• www.sandiegouniontribune.com
• fineartamerica.com
• www.ownbyphotography.com
• www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org
• fraservalley.wbu.com
• birdfotos.com
• www.kidzone.ws
• trailmob.com
• photographylife.org
• crysaltrulove.wordpress.com
• www.huffingtonpost.com
• www.birdingimformation.com