Oklahoma Vagrants: Steller's Jay

A common jay in thick coniferous forest and mature woods of the West, Steller's Jay might also be observed in oak woods and other adjacent wood.  They will also be plentiful in campgrounds, back yards, and parks.  Small groups of these omnivores often feed together upon insects, seeds and fruit,  they can even entertain at bird feeders for black oil and striped sunflower seeds, and are excellent for removing picnic food.  Their attraction is to whole raw peanuts, and they will also accept the shelled variety.  Cracked corn is also favored, and suet will be accepted in the winter months.  They also eat their share of protein, including lizards, eggs, nestlings, snakes, and rodentia.

The long dark crest, dark blue and black upper body, and lacking white on the wings will be a good indication that you're visiting with the mountain jay.  Social with humans at picnic areas and camp sites, they will compete with the Gray Jay in its range.

First located on the Oklahoma Panhandle in 1970, it appears more often today, but is still yet to arrive in any recent numbers.  Seen only in Cimarron County, mostly in winter, it has arrived more often in 2017 and 2018 than it did in the past.  It came to the Benton Ranch in spring of  2018, which is as far east as it has been.

                                                                      Steller's Jay
                                                              Pima County, AZ 2018

Bold, relentless, and aggressive, the Blue Jay has been overlapping the long-crested jay's territory, which is no longer the only crested jay found west of the Rockies.  For those of us acquainted with the Blue Jay in our region, the pine jay varies in its own regional locations. Both Steller's and Blue Jays interbreed to hybridize where ranges overlap.  It has been argued that their distinction as a species is a moot point.

Black-brown headed birds of the north become bluer headed as one travels south.  Eastern birds on the Great Divide have white marks over the eyes (Interior West subspecies).  The far west birds have little white on the head or none at all (Pacific subspecies).

This handsome corvid was named after German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, who was the first European to record them in 1741.  It is also a known mimic, like any other member of the corvidae, and enjoys victimizing small songbirds with this talent with its raptor impersonations, as well as other beings and objects.

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: American Crow

One of the most well known birds in the country, the American Crow or common crow, can be a good or bad bird to have in the area, depending upon one's preferences.  Groups or singles can be a handful for any raptor to endure, either through the general din or simple harassment.  This is known as mobbing behavior.  Crows are well known for their intelligence and adaptability, and unless they can get something for their trouble, they are not going to work for it.

Known for their deep caws and croaks, this all black bird is found in all open habitats and will eat anything that isn't protected, which includes the eggs of other birds.  They form large roosts during winter where thousands gather in trees.  Many of these roosts have been in the same area for a century.

                                                                  American Crow
                                                            Boomer Lake Park, 2015
Nests are stick platforms, preferentially in oaks or conifers, near the trunk, around two feet in diameter.  Where there are no trees, telephone poles, shrubs, and the ground are used.  Incubation is around eighteen days, and the young stay with their parents or a flock for an indeterminate period after fledging.

They usually avoid deserts and unbroken forest expanses, and are very social birds.  They will also form strong relationships with other species, using their powers of flight and foraging and trade this for help with gaining access to a carcass especially during the winter.  Even though they have large bills, their structure does not allow them to break through skin.

                                                                 American Crow
                                                          Boomer Lake Park, 2014

The common crow has eaten from outdoor dog dishes, taken fruit from trees, and carried small cups of water to moisten hard food.  They have eaten exhausted birds while resting from migration, and several together will provide distraction displays while others will take the food from mammals.

However, even the crow has empathy, and has provided moral support to sick and dying individuals.  Either one loves them or despises them, but there is never an in-between.  They are even aware that death means no longer existing, and hold funerals for their own species.

These passerines are susceptible to West Nile Virus and will usually pass within a week, even if cared for.  Suspicious of humans because of their mistreatment over the centuries, it is unusual for a crow to trust any of them.

For more photos of the American Crow and other birds:

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-land-of-plenty.html

https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-north-meets-south-long-may-they-fly.html