Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesWoodhouse's Scrub-Jay
Adult (Woodhouse's)
Large, lanky songbird with a long tail and a stout bill. Adults are light blue and gray above, with a whitish throat, grayish belly, and thin, partial breast band of pale blue.
© Curtis McCamy / Macaulay LibraryTexas, January 16, 2018Juvenile (Woodhouse's)
Long-bodied songbird. Juveniles have a grayer head than adults, but otherwise look similar.
© Alan Ketcham / Macaulay LibraryColorado, August 10, 2017Adult
Note fairly thin, pointed bill, which works well to extract pinyon pine seeds from their cones. Bill is shaped differently than closely related California Scrub-Jay, which eats more acorns.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 13, 2011Not all videos have sound
Adult (Sumichrast's)
Residents in southern mainland Mexico are brighter blue above and whiter below with a darker ear patch and a less distinct necklace.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryOaxaca, April 02, 2013Adult (Woodhouse's)
Pale blue and gray above with gray underparts and a thin partial necklace across the chest.
© Kai Mills / Macaulay LibraryArizona, April 07, 2017Adult (Woodhouse's)
In good light, they can look much brighter blue.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 09, 2016Adult (Woodhouse's)
Often perches on exposed branches watching its surroundings. Note the partial and indistinct blue necklace.
© Adit Nehra / Macaulay LibraryUtah, March 18, 2018Habitat
Found in open habitats and pinyon-juniper woodlands of interior western North America, as well as backyards and pastures.
© Bryan Guarente / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 21, 2014Similar SpeciesCalifornia Scrub-Jay
Adult
California Scrub-Jays overlap with Woodhouse's only in a limited part of eastern California and western Nevada. California Scrub-Jays are a deeper, richer blue with brighter gray-white underparts and a more distinct blue necklace.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 21, 2009Similar SpeciesPinyon Jay
Adult
Pinyon Jays are the only other large blue bird without a crest that you're likely to see in most of the western United States. Pinyon Jays are stockier, shorter-tailed (almost crow-shaped) and plainer blue overall than Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays.
© David Hollie / Macaulay LibraryColorado, June 06, 2010Similar SpeciesMexican Jay
Adult
The Mexican Jay of far southern Arizona and New Mexico has a blue-gray (not gray) back and lacks the scrub-jay's necklace.
© Richard Fray / Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 06, 2017Similar SpeciesFlorida Scrub-Jay
Adult
Florida Scrub-Jays look similar but their range does not overlap with Woodhouse's; they are restricted to Florida. Florida Scrub-Jays have a white forehead unlike Woodhouse's.
© Patrick J. Blake / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 21, 2017Similar SpeciesSteller's Jay
Adult (Interior)
Steller's Jays have a black crest unlike the round-headed Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay.
© Todd Dixon / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 05, 2016Similar SpeciesBlue Jay
Adult
Blue Jays occur in the east and have a blue crest and a black necklace, 2 features that Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays don't have.
© bellemare celine / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, February 03, 2017Similar SpeciesWestern Bluebird
Adult male
Western Bluebirds are blue, but they have a rusty chest and are much smaller than Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays.
© Brooke Miller / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 13, 2015Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Crows, Jays, and Magpies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Corvidae)
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