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Mexican Jay

Silhouette JaysJays
Mexican JayAphelocoma wollweberi
  • ORDER: Passeriformes
  • FAMILY: Corvidae

Basic Description

The soft-blue and gray Mexican Jay looks like a duskier version of other scrub-jays (whose genus they share) but has a smaller black bill and lacks a blue necklace. Its range extends from Mexico into pine-oak-juniper woodlands of the southwestern U.S. Mexican Jays live in family groups of up to 25 individuals and may have several active nests in one territory. All group members share the responsibility of feeding young. They rarely disperse and stay with their groups throughout their lives.

More ID Info
image of range map for Mexican Jay
Year-roundBreedingMigrationNonbreeding
Range map provided by Birds of the World
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Find This Bird

Mexican Jays are relatively common in the cool pine-oak-juniper woodlands of western Texas, southeastern Arizona, and a bit of far southwestern New Mexico, where they patrol their territories and forage throughout the day. Strolling a road or trail for a few hours will often turn up a flock. Listen for their far-carrying, nasal weenk calls, which flockmates use to stay in contact and communicate about predators.

Other Names

  • Chara Pechigrís (Spanish)
  • Geai du Mexique (French)
  • Cool Facts