The STELLER'S JAY is a common and widespread resident species of coastal and montane coniferous forests throughout California. They are bold and aggressive around campsites through the mountains and are common backyard birds in fog-shrouded coastal canyons. The races in California are quite blackish-headed with a pair of blue forehead streaks (such as those shown in the top photo on a bird of the widespread California race C. s. frontalis). Races to the east of the state (e.g., in Rocky Mountains) have white forehead streaks.

All my California records have been of birds within their range including a few downslope into the deserts in fall or winter. I was familiar with this species even as a child because they were around our campsites on annual trips to Yosemite Valley.

See the family page for county abbreviations. All photos & text © 2001 Don Roberson; all rights reserved.
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