Aphelocoma californica (Western Scrub Jay)
Credit: Marky Mutchler
about the species
The California Scrub Jay occurs along the west coast of North America from Washington to Baja California del Sur. A flagship bird species of the chaparral and oak woodlands, scrub jays cache acorns in the ground for winter food. Although their memory is remarkable, they occasionally forget their storage sites, which provides a means for dispersal and sprouting of new oaks. They are the sentinels of the forest, descending upon and mobbing predators and humans who intrude. About this bird, Leon Dawson, in his classic four-volume Birds of California (1923) wrote: "Mischief, thy name is Blue Jay!" Their way of harassing other birds and even taking their eggs and young has earned the California Scrub Jay a reputation as a bully of the backyard bird feeder. That said, they are known to familiarize themselves with humans and even take peanuts from the hand.
why species was selected
The California Scrub Jay is a keystone species of the oak woodlands, acting as a seed disperser to our native oaks. Widespread throughout the state's chaparral habitat, the California Scrub Jay is a model species for understanding how California's landscape has influenced the generation of biodiversity. There are several subspecies described that have subtle differences in size and color. The genomics of this species will help us understand how specific landscape features help generate these differences in appearance and which parts of the state harbor the most diversity.
