At Flea Market Gardening, we love birds! In our albums we have collected, there are many photos of the ones in our backyards, from humble sparrows to brilliant cardinals. And what better time than Winter for watching them? We also have an album dedicated to birdhouses and feeders for your enjoyment!
This first in a series, is on Steller’s Jay, an interesting bird from California.
It’s a sign
Cold weather is here. Steller’s jay, Cyanocitta stelleri, with its black head and upper body is one of only two species in the genus Cyanocitta, the other species being the Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata, found throughout the Central and Eastern United States. We only see these stunning birds when it’s very cold here in the foothills of Central California.
Steller’s jay
Our Western scrub jays, one is below, Aphelocoma californica, are much different with their crestless heads and grey underbodies. Their home is our oak woodlands and also chaparral near the Western coast as well as suburban backyards all over the Western United States.
Scrub jay ‘stealing’ a peanut which he’ll bury for later!
Steller’s Jays
Their range is from British Columbia in North America to Nicaragua in Central America and they are usually found in higher altitude pine forests. In autumn, flocks often visit oak woodlands when acorns are ripe.
Here near Yosemite, they live close to the campgrounds there and know that there are bird feeders there and picnic crumbs. Here at 3000 ft in the foothills, we only see them in the late fall and winter as the Black oaks turn gold or when it is very cold or snowy in the high country. Plenty of acorns this year.
What birds do you particularly like to watch in your backyard?
4 Comments
Well color me dense. I LOVE Steller’s jays, and we, too, have them (of course, since we’re not far from you, and at about 3500 feet), but I’d not noticed WHEN we see them. Thanks for the heads up.
I kinda doubt this counts as a bird I particularly like to watch in my backyard, as I see them so seldom, but cedar waxwings make me SWOON. MAN they are beautiful. I also love hermit thrushes. Such sweet, big eyes, and I love that speckled chest. Thanks for the birdy-clue. =) xo
Hi biobabbler, I love cedar waxwings too and remember them swooping around marshy areas along roadsides when traveling. These handsome fellas are rare but welcome at the birdbath,…they wonder what’s wrong, though,…the water there is often frozen when they come!
Beautiful ‘Steller’s Jay’ photos! …I’ve never seen one!! We have lots of Bluejays that feed here in IA in the Winter, too! Such fun to watch them from the cozy warmth inside to the Winter Wonderland outside! My hubby keeps the feeders filled & we get several species: Cardinal (a fave); Woodpeckers …both Downy & Red-breasted; & the ‘dainty’ Chickadee; pretty gray Junco bird; Purple Finch; & several types of Sparrows…& I’m sure I’m missing a few species, too. Anyway, very beautiful! TFS your world, Sue Langley!
Our first Steller showed up this morning and yes it’s cold here! We don’t see them every year, but usually late Dec and early Jan they come for a brief visit. They are so beautiful! We love them!