Crows (Corvidae)
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) - HBW 14, p. 568
French: Geai de Steller
German:
Spanish: Chara de Steller
Taxonomy: Corvus stelleri J. F. Gmelin, 1788, in Sinu Natka Americae borealis = Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Genus closest to Gymnorhinus and Aphelocoma. Analyses of mitochondrial DNA suggest that this species and C. cristata likely split from a common ancestor over 5 million years ago (cytochrome b gene divergence of 10.7%). Occasionally hybridizes with C. cristata. Race suavis intergrades with lazula; latter poorly differentiated, possibly better merged with ridgwayi; also, teotepecensis and ridgwayi subsumed in coronata by some taxonomists. Sixteen subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- stelleri ( J. F. Gmelin, 1788) - S Alaska and coastal British Columbia S to NW Oregon.
- carlottae Osgood, 1901 - Queen Charlotte Is (off British Columbia).
- annectens ( S. F. Baird, 1874) - Rocky Mts of interior British Columbia and SW Alberta (Canada) S in USA to E Washington, Idaho, Montana, E Oregon and Wyoming.
- stelleri ( J. F. Gmelin, 1788) - S Alaska and coastal British Columbia S to NW Oregon.
- carlottae Osgood, 1901 - Queen Charlotte Is (off British Columbia).
- annectens ( S. F. Baird, 1874) - Rocky Mts of interior British Columbia and SW Alberta (Canada) S in USA to E Washington, Idaho, Montana, E Oregon and Wyoming.
- frontalis ( Ridgway, 1873) - C Oregon S through mountains to E California and WC Nevada.
- carbonacea Grinnell, 1900 - N California (counties of Marin, Contra Costa and Monterey).
- macrolopha S. F. Baird, 1854 - S Rocky Mts from SW South Dakota S to Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, E to Nebraska and W Texas, and S to N Mexico (N Sonora and Chihuahua).
- diademata ( Bonaparte, 1850) - Sierra Madre Occidental from SE Sonora and SW Chihuahua S to Durango and Jalisco; also E Nuevo León.
- phillipsi Browning, 1993 - C Mexico (SC San Luis Potosí).
- purpurea Aldrich, 1944 - SC Mexico (N & C Michoacán).
- coronata ( Swainson, 1827) - E Mexico (SE San Luis Potosí and N Veracruz S to Puebla).
- azteca Ridgway, 1899 - WC Veracruz S to México, Morelos and W Puebla.
- teotepecensis R. T. Moore, 1954 - high mountains of C & S Guerrero, in S Mexico.
- restricta A. R. Phillips, 1966 - Oaxaca, in S Mexico.
- ridgwayi W. deW. Miller & Griscom, 1925 - highlands of SE Mexico (Chiapas) and adjacent Guatemala.
- lazula van Rossem, 1928 - El Salvador and SW Honduras.
- suavis W. deW. Miller & Griscom, 1925 - highlands of E El Salvador, Honduras and N Nicaragua.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A bird in a tree searching two bromelias and flying away. Locality La Cumbre, Oaxaca State, Mexico (Southern) (ssp restricta)
Josep del Hoyo 17 April 2009 2 years ago 20 sec 4.3 -
A bird moving on branches. Locality La Cumbre, Oaxaca State, Mexico (Southern) (ssp restricta)
Josep del Hoyo 17 April 2009 2 years ago 37 sec 4 -
A close-up of an adult's head Locality Butano State Park, California, USA (United States) (ssp carbonacea)
Michael Grunow 11 June 2004 4 years ago 24 sec 3.7 -
A male hopping on a lawn searching for food. Locality Sugarloaf, Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County, California, USA (United States)
Lebanese26 15 April 2009 2 years ago 21 sec 3.3 -
A dorsal view of an individual perched in a tree Locality Bolinas Lagoon, Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, California, USA (United States) (ssp carbonacea)
Michael Grunow 11 November 2005 4 years ago 2 sec 2.9
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Male - perched on a tree branch
Locality Hope, British Columbia, Canada
Blair Wainman 16 June 2010 1 year ago 4.6 -
Steller's jay sitting still for a micro second for a change.
Locality Grand Lake, Grand County, Colorado, USA (United States)
Mike Ross 27 November 2009 2 years ago 4.5 -
Steller's jay sitting still for a micro second for a change.
Locality Grand Lake, Grand County, Colorado, USA (United States)
Mike Ross 27 November 2009 2 years ago 4.3 -
Bird photographed at Endovalley Campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park
Locality Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA (United States)
Tom Moxley 22 September 2010 1 year ago 4 -
A bird perched.
Locality La Cumbre, Oaxaca State, Mexico (Southern) (ssp restricta)
Josep del Hoyo 17 April 2009 2 years ago 3.7 -
At a picnic area
Locality Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, California, USA (United States)
Buff 1 June 2008 1 year ago 3.7
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Loud calls. Locality Sonora State, Mexico (Northern)
(ssp macrolopha)
Scott Olmstead 21 August 2009 2 years ago 4.5 -
Calls of a bird perched Locality Yosemite National Park, California, USA (United States)
Stuart Fisher 15 April 2011 41 weeks ago 4
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