On the East Coast they have the crested
Blue Jay, but on the West Coast the only crested 
jay
is the Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri). The front
half of this bird is dark charcoal gray -- almost black -- and
the back half a brilliant blue, the wings and tail heavily barred.
The forehead has some blue markings.
As with all jays, this one is very vocal
and has a variety of vocalizations, but mostly the raucous shaack,
shaack, shaack, shaack.
It is about 11 inches long.
It is a resident along the West Coast in
mountain ranges from Alaska all the way south into Central America.
You'll find it in coniferous forests and oak and pine woods.
Its diet consists of nuts, fruit, seeds and some insects.
The nest is generally found, and well hidden,
in a dense conifer, but I have a Stellers nest messily constructed
of twigs under the eaves of my home. The clutch consists of 3
to 5 spotted greenish eggs. The incubation period is about 16
days. There is one brood produced each year.
The plush Steller's Jay is from Wild Republic
and is one of their Audubon Bird series. Check the Gift
Shop to see if there are any in stock.
