Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
The picture on the left is a close-up of the Steller's Jay showing its magnificently regal feather detail. Most birds including this one have thousands of feathers that make up their coats. The picture on the right shows one perched high in a tree, although it can often be seen (and heard) much closer to the ground. It's a bit larger than the American Robin, and its blue color and distinctive crest make it fairly easy to identify by sight. The Steller's Jay has a good ability to mimic the sounds of other birds, although it can often also be identified by its scolding calls. The photographs were taken on different days in November 2018 in Tilden Regional Park, CA. (Click on images to see enlarged versions.)