The Steller’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is a jay native to western North America, closely related to the blue jay (C. cristata) found in the rest of the continent, but with a black head and upper body. It is also known as the long-crested jay, mountain jay, and pine jay. It is the only crested jay west of the Rocky Mountains.
Jays breed in monogamous pairs.[7] The clutch is usually incubated entirely by the female for about 16 days.[8] The male feeds the female during this time. Though they are known to be loud, during nesting they are quiet in order to not attract attention.[9]
The nest is usually in a conifer but is sometimes built in a hollow in a tree. Similar in construction to the blue jay’s nest, it tends to be a bit larger (25 to 43 cm (9.8 to 16.9 in)), using a number of natural materials or scavenged trash, often mixed with mud. Between two and six eggs are laid during breeding season. The eggs are oval in shape with a somewhat glossy surface. The background colour of the egg shell tends to be pale variations of greenish-blue with brown- or olive-coloured speckles.
This stellar jay is available
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