Island Scrub Jay
Aphelocoma insularis
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyCorvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
- GenusAphelocoma (Scrub-Jays and Allies)
- SpeciesAphelocoma insularis (Island Scrub Jay)
About the Island Scrub Jay
The island scrub jay (Aphelocoma insularis), also known as the island jay or Santa Cruz jay, is a bird in the genus Aphelocoma, which is endemic to Santa Cruz Island off the coast of Southern California. Of the over 500 breeding bird species in the continental U.S. and Canada, it is the only insular endemic landbird species, meaning it is restricted to a geographical island.
The island scrub jay is closely related to the California scrub jay (the coastal population found on the adjacent mainland), but differs in being larger, more brightly colored, and having a markedly stouter bill. They will bury, or cache, the acorns in the fall and may eat them months later. They also eat insects, spiders, snakes, lizards, mice and other birds' eggs and nestlings.
The island scrub jay was first described by American ornithologist Henry Wetherbee Henshaw in 1886 and an archaeological specimen at site SCRI-192 dating from the 1780s-1812 on Santa Cruz Island is the earliest evidence of the bird in the historic period. This bird is a member of the crow family, and is one of a group of closely related North American species named as scrub jays. These were formerly treated... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Island Scrub Jay in Channel Islands National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Channel Islands National Park
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Orange-crowned Warbler
Leiothlypis celata
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Island Scrub Jay in Channel Islands National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Island Scrub Jay sighting in Channel Islands National Park, based on 2,666 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Island Scrub Jay in Channel Islands National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Island Scrub Jay in Channel Islands National Park in our monthly data.