California Scrub-Jay vs Western Bluebird

California Scrub-Jay

Aphelocoma californica

How to recognise a California scrub-Jay?

General appearance

A California scrub-jay is an avian species about the size of a crow or robin, with an impressive wingspan measuring between 28-33 cm. It has a unique coloration pattern, including a white throat framed by a streaked necklace. The bird's back is gray, contrastingly offset by a bold blue head, wings, and tail. Moreover, its tail is distinctive, showcasing a long, rounded, and wedge-shaped figure.

Male vs female

Sexual dimorphism is limited in the California scrub-jay, making it challenging to differentiate males from females based on colour or size alone. Both genders display similar plumage and size. Detailed behavioral observations may be required to accurately distinguish between the two.

Juvenile

Juvenile California scrub-jays exhibit similar coloration to their adult counterparts, although they may have a more dull and less distinctive plumage. They experience a transition to their classic coloration, with the blue becoming much more vivid as they mature into adulthood.

Size

11.0 - 11.8 in/2.5 - 3.5 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The California scrub-jay is typically found in oak woodland, oak scrub, and foothill forests of pinyon pine. These environments provide plenty of cover and abundant food sources.

Additional range

In addition to natural habitats, the California scrub-jay has adapted to human environments. It is often seen in well-wooded suburbs and parks, and also finds riverside woods suitable.

Range Map

What do California scrub-jays like to eat?

Natural diet

The California scrub-jay is omnivorous, with its diet changing seasonally. In summer, it consumes a wide range of insects, moth caterpillars, a few spiders, and snails, important for feeding young jays. During winter, its diet shifts to mostly acorns, seeds, nuts, and berries. It also eats some rodents, eggs and young birds, and small reptiles and amphibians, adjusting its food intake based on availability.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the California scrub-jay typically consumes available seeds and nuts. They are particularly attracted to peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet. Their adaptable foraging helps them take advantage of food supplies offered by humans in residential areas.

What does a California scrub-Jay sound like?

The California scrub-jay possesses a loud and throaty voice that is often described as sounding like "jayy" or "jree." Its flight is accompanied by a long, rhythmic series of "check-check-check" notes. The bird's call pattern can be flat or rising in tone, producing sounds that are distinctively buzz-like, rattle-like, raucous, or trill-like in nature. Therefore, its vocalizations are quite distinct and varied, providing a unique acoustic presence in its environment.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

How to recognise a western bluebird?

General appearance

The Western Bluebird measures 6-7 inches or 15-18 cm in size, roughly the same as a Sparrow or a Robin. The bird exhibits a color palette of blue, gray, and orange. Its wing shape is rounded and its tail shape has a notched, square tip. Another specific feature is the thicker bill of the Lazuli Bunting.

Male vs female

In terms of coloration, males are a deep purplish-blue on their upper parts and throat, with reddish-brown on their chest and sometimes at the center of their back. Their belly is a distinguishing gray color, different from the blue throat of the Eastern Bluebird. In contrast, female Western Bluebirds are much less colorful. They are duller and grayer than males, possessing a solid gray throat.

Juvenile

Juvenile Western Bluebirds have a notably different appearance from adult bluebirds. Most notably, young birds are dotted or spotted, reflecting their immature development. As they grow, they will gain the adult coloration of their respective genders.

Size

6.5 - 7.5 in/0.8 - 1.1 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The western bluebird primarily inhabits scattered tree areas, open conifer forests, and farms. It breeds in semi-open locations such as pine and oak woods, streamside groves, and ranch country, but avoids hot, dry regions.

Additional range

In winter, it is found in semi-open terrains, brush, deserts, and pinyon-juniper woods. It also occupies varied open or semi-open habitats like farmland.

Range Map

What do western bluebirds like to eat?

Natural diet

The diet of the western bluebird primarily consists of insects and berries. During the summer months, insects are predominant in their diet, including grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, ants, and various other insects. In the winter, the bluebird's diet shifts to include a significant amount of berries and small fruits. Some of the berries they consume are the fruits of mistletoe, juniper, and elderberry.

Bird feeders

Western bluebirds are not frequent visitors to bird feeders. However, they might occasionally be seen at feeders offering mealworms, which mimic their natural diet of insects. They may also be attracted to feeders with fruit offerings, like diced apples or berries, aligning with their fondness for small fruits and berries.

What does a western bluebird sound like?

The vocalizations of the western bluebird are diverse with soft calls resembling 'phew' and 'chuck' sounds. Its song typically emits as a subdued 'cheer, cheer-lee, churr'. The bird’s calls exhibit a falling or flat pattern and are typically perceived as a chirp, chip, or whistle. These distinct sounds represent the unique communication language of the western bluebird.

Song

Audio by Ryan Winkleman

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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California Scrub-Jay

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Western Bluebird

California Scrub-Jay

Aphelocoma californica

General appearance

A California scrub-jay is an avian species about the size of a crow or robin, with an impressive wingspan measuring between 28-33 cm. It has a unique coloration pattern, including a white throat framed by a streaked necklace. The bird's back is gray, contrastingly offset by a bold blue head, wings, and tail. Moreover, its tail is distinctive, showcasing a long, rounded, and wedge-shaped figure.

Male vs female

Sexual dimorphism is limited in the California scrub-jay, making it challenging to differentiate males from females based on colour or size alone. Both genders display similar plumage and size. Detailed behavioral observations may be required to accurately distinguish between the two.

Juvenile

Juvenile California scrub-jays exhibit similar coloration to their adult counterparts, although they may have a more dull and less distinctive plumage. They experience a transition to their classic coloration, with the blue becoming much more vivid as they mature into adulthood.

Size

11.0 - 11.8 in/2.5 - 3.5 oz

There's more to learn about California Scrub-Jay

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Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

General appearance

The Western Bluebird measures 6-7 inches or 15-18 cm in size, roughly the same as a Sparrow or a Robin. The bird exhibits a color palette of blue, gray, and orange. Its wing shape is rounded and its tail shape has a notched, square tip. Another specific feature is the thicker bill of the Lazuli Bunting.

Male vs female

In terms of coloration, males are a deep purplish-blue on their upper parts and throat, with reddish-brown on their chest and sometimes at the center of their back. Their belly is a distinguishing gray color, different from the blue throat of the Eastern Bluebird. In contrast, female Western Bluebirds are much less colorful. They are duller and grayer than males, possessing a solid gray throat.

Juvenile

Juvenile Western Bluebirds have a notably different appearance from adult bluebirds. Most notably, young birds are dotted or spotted, reflecting their immature development. As they grow, they will gain the adult coloration of their respective genders.

Size

6.5 - 7.5 in/0.8 - 1.1 oz

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How to tell the California Scrub-Jay from the Western Bluebird

Visual differences

The California Scrub-Jay is larger at 11-12 inches with a 28-33 cm wingspan, exhibiting a bold blue head, wings, and tail with a white throat and gray back. Its tail is long and wedge-shaped. In contrast, the Western Bluebird is smaller, at about 6-7 inches, with vibrant males featuring deep blue upper parts and a reddish-brown chest. Females are duller, with a gray throat. The Western Bluebird has a notched tail and round wings, while the scrub-jay's tail is more rounded and wedge-shaped.

Key differences and behavior

The California Scrub-Jay and Western Bluebird exhibit key behavioral differences. Scrub-Jays, intelligent and social, hold "funerals" for deceased conspecifics and use tools to obtain food, even standing on mule deer to eat parasites. They thrive in oak woodlands and suburbs, maintaining monogamous territories and adapting to human feeders. In contrast, Western Bluebirds, symbols of joy, inhabit less arid open forests and farms. They prefer nesting in cavities, with males arriving early to establish territories through song and display. While both species are omnivorous, Scrub-Jays display more opportunism, consuming a wider variety, including rodents and eggs. Bluebirds lean towards insects and berries, rarely visiting feeders but occasionally attracted to mealworms and fruits.