Lack of a crest doesn't prevent this Jay from expressing himself. His common note is high-pitched and is the call given to express alarm. The repertoire includes chuckles, staccatos and cusses quite at variance with sofe dove-like murmurs to his ladylove in Springtime.
They prefer open scrub and deciduous growth to coniferous forests and acorns form a large part of their food. In winter they are more wary, foraging for food in flocks.
Western United States. East to Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and northwestern Texas.