Species · GBIF taxon 2482414
Aphelocoma californica
aphelocoma californicaAlso known as California Jay, Western Scrub-Jay
California scrub jays are highly intelligent, bold corvids known for their striking blue and grey plumage and remarkable spatial memory. They harvest and cache thousands of acorns each autumn, meticulously burying them in the soil and remembering the exact locations of their stores months later. These adaptable birds thrive in oak woodlands and suburban gardens alike, frequently announcing their presence with harsh, raspy scolding calls.
IntelligentVocalUrban-Adapted
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Acorns
- Caterpillars
- Western Fence Lizard
Predators
- Cooper's Hawk
- Domestic Cat
- Gopher Snake
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, West Nile virus, and domestic cat predation
HabitatsOak woodlands, chaparral, suburban gardens, and parks
Life span9 to 15 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- Speciesaphelocoma californica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Offer Raw Peanuts: Place unsalted, in-shell peanuts on a flat platform feeder to attract these curious birds.
- Listen for Scolding: Follow their loud, raspy scolding calls to locate them moving through the canopy.
- Watch for Caching: Observe their behavior on lawns as they tap acorns into the ground and cover them with leaves.
Frequent Companion no rights reserved, uploaded by Zoltán Stekkelpak · cc0
Predator "Cooper's Hawk - immature" by Kaaren Perry is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative Peter Wallack / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Nigel Voaden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.