Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية

Mexican Jay

A species of Scrub Jays, Also known as Gray-breasted Jay
Scientific name : Aphelocoma wollweberi Genus : Scrub Jays

Mexican Jay, A species of Scrub Jays
Also known as:
Gray-breasted Jay
Botanical name: Aphelocoma wollweberi
Genus: Scrub Jays
Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi) Photo By gailhampshire , used under CC-BY-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Description

The Mexican jay is a medium-large (~120 g) passerine similar in size to most other jays, with a blue head, blue-gray mantle, blue wings and tail, and pale gray breast and underparts. The sexes are morphologically similar, and juveniles differ only in having less blue coloration and, in some populations, a pink/pale (instead of black) bill that progressively becomes more black with age (Brown and Horvath 1989). Some field guides misreport this color as yellow because the pale bill becomes yellow in museum study skins. The iris is brown and legs are black. It is most readily distinguished from the similar Woodhouse's scrub-jay by the plain (unstreaked) throat and breast, and the mantle contrasting less with the head and wings. Its range somewhat overlaps with the Woodhouse's scrub-jay, but, where they co-occur, the two species seem to show ecological and morphological character displacement (Curry et al. 2002).
Size
28-33 cm (11-13 in)
Life Expectancy
10-21 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
1 - 6 eggs
Feeding Habits
Mexican Jay largely consume acorns and pine nuts, which they cache for winter. They hammer acorns while holding them with their feet. In summer, their diet includes various insects, reptiles, amphibians, bird eggs, and nestlings. Rarely, they eat small birds and mice. Foraging occurs in groups, in vegetation and on the ground, and they also catch insects in flight or from spiderwebs. Mexican Jay can eat hairy caterpillars after removing the hairs. They occasionally feed on berries and nectar from agaves.
Habitat
Mexican Jay thrives in mountainous woodlands rich with pine, oak, and juniper trees across broad elevation ranges. Their habitat spans from the desert fringes to high mountainous regions, including desert grasslands and riparian zones with prevalent oaks. They adapt to different altitudes, sometimes exceeding 11,000 feet, especially where oak species and acorns are ample.
Nest Behavior
Male mexican Jay initiates nest building as part of mating rituals. Both sexes contribute to constructing the nest. Egg-laying patterns and timing of nest building are not specified, but parental care includes both male and female nurturing their young.
Nest Characteristics
Mexican Jay's nest is typically constructed 30 feet high in a tree, concealed near the trunk or on a branch fork. The platform-like cup, made from sticks and lined with rootlets, plant fibers, and animal hair, measures about 13 inches in diameter and 3 inches in height, with an interior cup about 5 inches across and 2 inches deep.
Dite type
Omnivorous

General Info

Feeding Habits

Bird food type
Bird Feeder Type
Platform

Sounds

Call
Recording location: Mexico
Call
Recording location: United States
Call
Recording location: United States

Behavior

Mexican Jay exhibit complex social dynamics, forming groups ranging from 5 to 25 individuals. Within these groups, multiple females may build nests and lay eggs, occasionally sharing the same nest. Despite apparent pair-bonding, DNA studies reveal frequent polygamous behavior, with nestlings often sired by males other than the primary partner. Males court females with subdued singing, wing spreading, and food offerings. Although a primary male assists in nesting and guards the female, paternity is not guaranteed, and group members cooperatively feed and raise the young, even when unrelated. Post-fledging, juveniles remain reliant on the group, showing lifelong fidelity to their social unit without maintaining specific pair bonds outside of nesting periods.

Distribution Area

It is native to the Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre Occidental, and Central Plateau of Mexico as well as eastern Arizona, western New Mexico and western Texas in the United States. Its preferred habitat is montane pine-oak forest.

Species Status

Not globally threatened.
Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi) Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi) Photo By gailhampshire , used under CC-BY-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Scientific Classification

Download Picture Bird
Identify any bird by photo or sound in seconds
Cookie Management Tool
In addition to managing cookies through your browser or device, you can change your cookie settings below.
Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
Analytical Cookies
Analytical cookies help us to improve our application/website by collecting and reporting information on its usage.
Cookie Name Source Purpose Lifespan
_ga Google Analytics These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here. 1 Year
_pta PictureThis Analytics We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience. 1 Year
Cookie Name
_ga
Source
Google Analytics
Purpose
These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here.
Lifespan
1 Year

Cookie Name
_pta
Source
PictureThis Analytics
Purpose
We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience.
Lifespan
1 Year
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests.
Cookie Name Source Purpose Lifespan
_fbp Facebook Pixel A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here. 1 Year
_adj Adjust This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here. 1 Year
Cookie Name
_fbp
Source
Facebook Pixel
Purpose
A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here.
Lifespan
1 Year

Cookie Name
_adj
Source
Adjust
Purpose
This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here.
Lifespan
1 Year
Download