Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay vs Western Bluebird

Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

Also known as: Woodhouse's Jay

How to recognise a Woodhouse's scrub-jay?

General appearance

The Woodhouse’s scrub-jay stands roughly 11 1/2 inches tall, about the size of a crow. Sporting a slim build and a moderately long tail, this bird presents a blend of dull blue color on its head, wings, and tail with a grayer tone in the center of its back. Its underparts are mostly light gray, with a hint of a blue chest band that sets off its slightly paler throat. Its wings are broad and rounded, while its tail can appear long, rounded, and wedge-shaped.

Male vs female

The description provided does not indicate any significant differences in size, color, or markings between male and female Woodhouse’s scrub-jays. Both genders appear to share the same general physical attributes and coloration.

Juvenile

The description provided does not provide specific details regarding the appearance of juvenile Woodhouse’s scrub-jays. Generally, juveniles may show somewhat subdued coloring compared to adults until they reach maturity.

Size

10.6 - 12.2 in/2.5 - 3.5 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Woodhouse’s scrub-jay primarily thrives in arid woodlands of juniper and pinyon pine, and in pine-oak woodlands and oak scrub in foothills.

Additional range

It adapts to suburban areas and parks. In winter, it disperses to lowland riverside woods.

Range Map

What do Woodhouse’s scrub-jays like to eat?

Natural diet

The Woodhouse’s scrub-jay is omnivorous, with a diet that changes with the seasons. During summer, it consumes a wide variety of insects, including a large number of moth caterpillars for feeding its young. Additionally, it occasionally eats spiders and snails. In winter, its diet shifts predominantly to acorns and other seeds, nuts, and berries. It also eats some rodents, eggs and young of other birds, and small reptiles and amphibians.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, Woodhouse’s scrub-jays commonly consume peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet. They are known to be attracted to feeders offering these items due to their high-fat content and easy availability.

What does a Woodhouse's scrub-jay sound like?

The vocalizations of the Woodhouse’s scrub-jay are quite distinctive and unique. Their call is notably loud and throaty, often signaled by a "jayy?" or "jree?" sound. In flight, the bird commonly calls a long series of "check-check-check" notes. The call pattern is flat but can also rise, and the call type includes a range of sounds, such as a buzzy, rattle-like, raucous, or even a trill.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

There's more to learn about Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

View full details

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

There's more to learn about Western Bluebird

View full details

Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

Tap To compare

Western Bluebird

Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

Also known as: Woodhouse's Jay

General appearance

The Woodhouse’s scrub-jay stands roughly 11 1/2 inches tall, about the size of a crow. Sporting a slim build and a moderately long tail, this bird presents a blend of dull blue color on its head, wings, and tail with a grayer tone in the center of its back. Its underparts are mostly light gray, with a hint of a blue chest band that sets off its slightly paler throat. Its wings are broad and rounded, while its tail can appear long, rounded, and wedge-shaped.

Male vs female

The description provided does not indicate any significant differences in size, color, or markings between male and female Woodhouse’s scrub-jays. Both genders appear to share the same general physical attributes and coloration.

Juvenile

The description provided does not provide specific details regarding the appearance of juvenile Woodhouse’s scrub-jays. Generally, juveniles may show somewhat subdued coloring compared to adults until they reach maturity.

Size

10.6 - 12.2 in/2.5 - 3.5 oz

There's more to learn about Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

View full details

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

There's more to learn about Western Bluebird

View full details

How to tell the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay from the Western Bluebird

Visual differences

The Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay is larger, at 11.5 inches, with a slim build and long tail, displaying dull blue on its head, wings, and tail with gray underparts. The Western Bluebird, smaller at 6-7 inches, has a more compact shape with a notched tail and thicker bill. Males are a deep purplish-blue with a reddish-brown chest, whereas females are duller and grayer. Jay's long, rounded tail contrasts the bluebird's square-tipped tail, making both birds distinct in size and color schemes.

Key differences and behavior

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays and Western Bluebirds exhibit distinct behavioral differences. Scrub-Jays, clever and opportunistic, are known for stealing acorns and hitching rides on deer. They thrive in arid woodlands, adapt to suburban areas, and are omnivorous, shifting from insects to seeds seasonally. They form monogamous pairs that defend territories year-round. Western Bluebirds, symbols of joy, prefer scattered trees and avoid arid regions. During breeding, males sing and display for territory, and they nest in cavities. Their diet is heavily insect-based in summer, shifting to berries in winter. While less frequent at feeders, they occasionally visit those with mealworms or fruits. Bluebird pairs also assist in feeding offspring but rely on installing birdhouses for nesting, contrasting Scrub-Jays' shrub and tree nests. Thus, a Scrub-Jay's adaptive, omnivorous, and sometimes communal behavior contrasts with the more specialized, cavity-nesting, and symbolically serene Western Bluebird.