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 soft 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.
NEST: in low scrub, usually within 6 feet of the ground, a frail structure of small twigs lined with rootlets and hair.
EGGS: 3–6; pale green lightly spotted with brown and lavender.
Western United States. East to Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and northwestern Texas.
A tree sometimes 200 feet high distributed from southern Alaska to San Bernardino Mountains, California.