General Description: California Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma californica), formerly the coastal subspecies of Western Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma californica), are blue-jays without crests that live in the Pacific region. The head, wings, and tail are blue. The upper back is brown, and the belly is gray. The throat and upper breast are white, bordered by blue to form what is referred to as a "necklace."

Recent genetic work (Gowen et al., 2014, BMC Evolutionary Biology 14:135) has shown that there are two species of "Western" Scrub-Jays: California, Woodhouse's, and perhaps a third in Southern Mexico. Around Las Vegas, we have Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay; and in the Pacific states, they have California Scrub-Jay. There is also an intergrade zone near Lake Tahoe.

California Scrub-Jays, in comparison with Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays, have bold blue plumage, a large and dark blue collar, a bold eyestripe, pale undertail coverts, and a large, hooked bill. Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays, in comparison, are identified (on average) by pale blue plumage, small and pale blue collar, pale eyestripe, dark undertail coverts, and a small, straight bill.

Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Corvidae.

Favored Habitat: Middle-elevation deserts and mountains. Common in the Pinyon-Juniper life zone.

Where to Find: Look for California Scrub-Jays over in California and the other Pacific states, mostly west of the mountains, although a few have been seen east of the mountains in northern Nevada.

Comments: These are the noisy blue camp robbers seen at middle elevations.