Steller's Jay

birds · western forests · crested

Punk-rock crown. Steller's jay has a fancy pointed crest on its head that makes it look like it's always having a wild hair day. It's the only crested jay living west of the Rocky Mountains.

Mountain home. These jays love the tall pine and coniferous forests of western North America and Central America, where they zip through the trees looking for food and adventure.

Clever trickster. Steller's jays are smart and sneaky, often mimicking hawk calls to scare other birds away from food sources so they can grab all the best snacks themselves.

West coast cousin. While eastern North America has blue jays, Steller's jay is the big, bold blue jay of the West, and people sometimes call them blue jays too, which can get confusing!

Bold personality. These jays are loud, curious, and not shy at all, often visiting backyards and campsites where they'll grab peanuts or other tasty treats right in front of you.