Steller's Jay                  Cyanocitta stelleri

 

Facts

We chose this organism because we were interested in social bird behavior.  We came to find the Steller’s Jay has many unique characteristics and habits that separate it from other birds. 
To name a few:

• There are 16 different sub-species (Greene et al. 1998)
  
• They don’t migrate, they move into lower elevations (AAB 2005)
  
• Steller’s Jays and the Blue Jay are the only new world jays that have barred wings and tail feathers (Greene et al. 1998)
  
• Steller’s Jays and the Blue Jay are also the only jays to use mud to build their nests (AAB 2005)
  
• The oldest Steller’s Jay was 16 years old and found in Juneau, AK (Greene et al. 1998)
  
• Steller’s Jays can be found anywhere from Alaska to Nicaragua (Greene et al. 1998)
  
• They can mimic a large variety sounds like cats, dogs, other birds, and even sprinklers or other mechanical noises (Greene et al. 1998)
  
• They are a monogamous species, meaning they stay with the same mate their entire lifetime (CAC 2013)
  
• Steller’s Jays mob predatory birds when they get to close, meaning a large group of jays harasses the predatory bird (Greene et al. 1998)

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