We really enjoyed their antics-there were quite a few until out-of-control development flattened enough trees in our neighborhood to drive them out. We got used to hearing their calls that we thought of as "the rusty push-mower." That, and watching them carefully deciding among which peanuts to pick up. "This one? (picks it up) Nope. (drops it) How about this one? (picks it up) Nope. (drops it)" That'd go on for quite a while, with the jay often picking up the first one he'd rejected and flying off with it. The cream of the crop sighting was the day five or six of them landed on our deck and proceeded to play leap-frog. I don't know how else to describe it. There was no food on the deck. They were repeatedly jumping over the top of each other and hopping around all over the place. I don't know what to conclude except that it sure looked like playing for playing's sake. A couple of them learned that pecking at a glass skylight would signal "time for you to give me a peanut"-and it worked. We'd get up and toss a few peanuts outside every time. They even taught that trick to the next generation. We sure miss 'em.
I feed Steller's Jays at my home in Colorado and I have observed similar behavior with peanuts. My guess is that they are trying to find the heaviest one.
@@lovepet4565 I'm entirely cynical about my "woke" city's supposed commitment to "reducing carbon footprint." They're content to have lots of trees removed for development, having apparently forgotten that trees remove carbon from the atmosphere and put oxygen back into it. Further, despite all the fol-de-rol in campaign speeches about reducing carbon footprint: How could heavily increased urban density _not_ increase carbon output? The whole business would be laughable if it weren't pernicious and dishonest. Lots of lying going on.
What’s really funny is watching one who can’t decide which peanut to take try to take them all. Cramming their beaks with peanuts and dropping them, getting frustrated over it. XD Meanwhile other jays and squirrels are swooping in and running off with individual peanuts while this poor goof tries to run off with the whole thing.
We have Steller’s Jays here in Eugene, Oregon. Over the 20 years we have lived here, my husband befriended several of them, hand feeding them peanuts and teaching them tricks like tapping on the kitchen window to ask for peanuts. Several generations of them have taught their chicks to come to our yard and tap on the window. My husband was an artist, and trained his favorite Steller’s Jay, who he called Blue Brow, to pose on a certain twig outside the studio so he could paint the bird’s portrait. Their mimicry is very charming. Sometimes I’ll put some peanuts on the deck for them, and they will make the Red Tailed Hawk cry to scare away other birds. They have also learned to mimic the squeak of the kitchen door. They’re such personalities, and it has been a pleasure to have them as neighbors.
Their ability at mimicry is astounding. Sounds just like the red-tailed hawk. Where I live is supposed to be within their range so I'm going to start keeping my eyes out for them.
I love Steller's jays, thank you! They're such rascals. Though I first knew blue jays, being from New Hampshire, I spent 40 years in western Washington state where they're as common as crows. I've got too many funny stories to share here! One thing I saw, though, were a pair of parents encouraging their fledging to exercise its wings. One was at the top of the house I lived next to, and the other on a branch. They took turns calling to the baby so it would have to fly back and forth, lol. They make incredible parents, like all corvids seem to. I live "back east" again in Ohio and have been loving the blue jays once again, when I can see them. They and the crows hang out down the road from me, at the Great Miami River that I live near to.
I used to work in Yosemite. We got a meal card that was good at the tourist cafeterias. In the summer I'd eat my breakfast outside on the patio. Some days yellow jackets would swarm my bacon. I'd flick one with my spoon and it would land on the ground dazed and spinning circles. A friendly Steller's Jay would swoop down out of a nearby pine tree, gobble up the yellow jacket, and then fly back up to his branch about 15 feet up and overhanging the patio. One by one the two of us would work as a team to clear out the yellow jackets. That Steller's Jay was a worldwide celebrity. Every morning there would anywhere from 2 to a dozen or more tourists taking pics of him gobbling up yellow jackets. Those mornings always put a smile on my face.
Yaaay! I like Steller’s Jays and hate yellow jackets -y j are just pure mean!! I used to feed a Steller’s Jay peanuts in the shell. If I didn’t wake up early enough for his liking, he found out where I slept and he’d knock on my window! “Wake up, you dozy chick! It’s peanut o’clock!” 😹😹😹 ✌🏼💖
@@YvetteArby That's funny he'd tap on your window. Yellow jackets are all over the Sierras. When we'd go camping, to keep them from swarming our campsite, I'd stick a slice of bacon to a tree about 100-150 feet away. The yellow jackets would swarm the slice of bacon instead and the only time we'd see one is when it was making a beeline through our camp to get to the bacon. In 2-3 days they'd devour the slice of bacon. It always amazed me how quick the little guys could go through a slice of raw bacon.
@@YvetteArby If you're ever out camping and get bothered by yellow jackets, take a slice of raw bacon and stick it to a tree about 100 feet from your campsite. The yellow jackets will swarm the bacon and leave your campsite alone. Be careful because the little guys will devour the slice of bacon in a couple of days and you'll need to hang up another one.
@@LuckyBaldwin777 I like the idea of “feeding them” to the Jays much better than feeding THEM! We’re in Georgia where Yellow Jackets are a total menace. (I don’t mean the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, of course.) I wish our birds weren’t so well fed here in the Southeast, because I would love to see a bunch of Blue Jays wipe out every one of them. Loved your story. My husband and I fell in love with Steller’s Jays the first time we went to New Mexico, in 1983, and always look forward to seeing them on our next trip. Fine critters!
I did an illustration of Steller’s Jays for an article on sub-species differences and really enjoyed learning more about them. Here in western Oregon, we get the Coastal sub-species. In addition to the differences in coloration and marking, there are also strong differences in crest length between the sub-species. Such cool birds! I never tire of seeing or hearing them! 💙 Thanks for another great video, Lesley! With gratitude, Tara Kate
Here in Seattle, I'm lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a roving gang of Stellers every morning when they bang on my screen door demanding peanuts and any loose change I might have on me. They're super hyper and noisy, and they make your Blue Jays seem like librarians in comparison. My favorite sound they make sounds like a cartoon horse. I've been trying to get them to land on my hand like the way you do, but so far it just gets them more and more agitated until I just give up and throw a bunch of peanuts into the yard and they screech like maniacs while they battle for the best peanut; they always have to do some sophisticated A/B weight testing before the decide which one to take, and it's total chaos while a bunch of them are doing this at once, and they also seem to be able to scream their lungs out whilst still holding a big peanut in their mouth.
@MiFi My feeder isn't as active this year, I only put in about a quart of black oil seeds in every other day, and their doesn't seem to be as many bird's around. Lesley the Bird Nerd said that their was a disease killing the birds this past summer and to keep your feeders clean. I don't know if any of my neighbors have feeders either. Maybe when the whether turns colder, and the seed harvest is done, they will return. But I keep all of my bird's happy with peanuts that I put out on my small deck table. I have to shell them for the little chickadees.
One time, as I ran out to our barn, I saw every cat making haste back to the house, as if fleeing a fire. Curious, I looked around the corner, and saw about twenty or thirty little Steller Jays feasting on cat food, screaming, and generally having a grand old time. Ever since, I’ve loved them. I did giggle when I saw you call a mountain jay a “Canadian jay”. I don’t know anyone who calls them that, and I live in Manitoba. My uncle called them “whiskeyjacks”, and sometimes the older folks will call them “grey jays”.
I'm a Colorado native, as was my Mom. she always called Gray Jay/Canada Jays "Camp Robbers". It's a name that suits them. I have run across some in heavily used campgrounds that would steal food right off your plate if you looked away from it for a few seconds. Steller's Jays in Colorado are usually not quite that bold.
Their official English name was changed in 2018 to Canada jay from gray jay. I know some folks who affectionately call them camp robbers too, a very fitting name indeed!
I have always thought that they looked like a mix between a crow and a Blue Jay with a darker blue plumage, too. I’m glad there is someone out there that concurs. 🙂
Photos don’t do them justice. Their plumage sparkles in the sun, almost like they’ve got tiny sapphires embedded in their feathers. It’s shockingly blue in the right light, almost doesn’t look natural.
Thank you again Lesley. As I believe that I have said to you before; I have low vision, and by the time that I can focus on the birds, very often but not always, they are gone, so I very much appreciate your videos.
Great video, especially loved the footage of the hawk imitation call. We are so fortunate to have these jays here on the west coast and hear their very unique calls.
I live on the East Coast, but saw a Steller’s Jay while visiting California coastal redwoods in 2009. I will never forget this lovely bird! Thanks, Lesley!
What gorgeous colours in their plumage. Very interesting video, as always. I loved the picture of the Canada Jay! It has quite a short break unless that was a baby? It was very cute. Being in UK I shall probably never see any of these Jays so I am especially grateful for these beautiful images and the narrative info.
Yep. I think the Canada Jay, including the adults have a shorter beak than the other Jays. I agree that it does give them more of a cute look, along with the beady eyes and puffy cheeks. 🥰
Also, the Steller’s Sea Eagle (which is a lovely eagle, BTW). Their range is mostly in Russia and Japan (and I think Alaska, too), but I saw one at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last year.
Ah, I miss seeing Steller's jays. My last field season on the Oregon Coast Range involved a lot of sitting in one spot in order to survey for an endangered seabird call a marbled murrelet. I would often hear and watch Steller's jays, and at one site there was a jay who had a passable imitation of a red-tailed hawk call. One of my close friends lives near Seattle and has made friends with a pair of Steller's who come to feed on the nuts she and her husband buys for them.
I see many of them in our property here in suburban Vancouver. They have become so tame they even flew to me for peanuts after I named some of them, coming when I called their name. I live in a Condo so I had to stop giving them food, as they would bury the nuts in other resident’s planters and dig up their plants to retrieve them. Beautiful birds though!
Go up to a higher elevation lake in So.Ore. and they line up in front of your cabin. You get more than a glimpse. I've eaten lunch in a favorite mountain cafe with these guys looking in the window.. Up by the register, they sell jay and chipmonk food. Yes, you would enjoy them.
I am blessed to be surrounded with these smart and vibrant birds. They will tap on my window( sometimes too early lol) looking for a peanut. They also play very nicely with the other birds and animals that frequent my feeders.
That’s very true. They’ll happily share a feeder with smaller birds and each other. See them a lot with chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, and finches, and they just go about their business. Very social birds.
Here in the San Francisco Bay Area I think of Scrub Jays as the "in-town" jay, and Steller's Jays as the "just outside of town" jay. We just don't have enough trees in town for the Steller's, with a few exceptions along creeks - seeing them at those spots is always pretty exciting. They're so striking! Of course, once you head into the Sierras for some camping, Steller's Jays practically own the place. I'm glad they have a lot in common with Blue Jays because it helps me understand a lot of your Blue Jay content. I've never seen one in real life.
Beautiful bird and as always an excellent video, Lesley! Steller must have been a fortunate man indeed, to be one of the first of those discovering birds from a scientific perspective in an as yet unspoilt wilderness. The majestic Steller's Sea Eagle and gorgeous Steller's Eider are also named after him.
Thanks for the great video! Stellar's Jays are some of my faves, I feed a mated pair in my backyard, as does my buddy across town. He told me that if I put out unshelled peanuts they will come and stash them and if the supply is out they will learn to come to the window and tap on the outside to get more. Sure enough, within a month of starting to do this I got 'the knock'. I'm pleased that you were able to video the mimics of red tailed hawks and crows, a fellow naturalist and I were trying to find a red tailed hawk in the marsh that would call out and wasn't visible in the trees, only to be found a month or so later to be a Stellar's Jay in the conifer next to us. It looked either embarrassed to have been found out or amused, take it as you will.
Awesome. Thanks. I grew up with magpies and crows, but these birds are way more fun. Since moving out to the PACNW, I have the good fortune of having a family in our yard. Their 2nd generation has accepted us and our peanut-handouts, and they are a blast. They mimic a cat if they see a cat, and they mimic a hawk likewise.
💙🖤💙💙💙🖤💙💙 Truely Beautiful Birds🐦!!~*Great coverage of these lovely feathered friends❤!!~* We do not have them here in Pennsylvania either!! Most intresting is they and our Eastern Blue Jay are interbreeding, Wow!!~*
They are so expressive, with the head cocking and the crest bobbing about indicating mood, or maybe just getting a better look. and the different eyebrows on coastal and interior versions. They can be a bit intimidating to some of the smaller birds visiting the feeders here, but I've also seen them being chased through the trees by feisty hummingbirds. They always seem to be up to some drama though. I had one visit my campsite and boldly break into my hazelnuts in seconds, it also discovered it could fit not 1 but 3 cheerios in it's beak at once. So greedy.
Thanks for the wonderful video! I never had the pleasure of seeing a Steller's Jay, but I hope to some time. They remind me a lot of Blue Jays, also. I wonder who would dominate whom at a bird feeder. I never knew there were so many subspecies of Steller's Jays. Very informative and professional video :-)
They live here where I am in B.C. and I once saw them in the same tree as bluejays when going for a walk. It startled me when I noticed them all looking at me. Birders with out of date information have told me they do not coexist with bluejays, but unfortunately I didn't have a camera or phone with me. This video amazes me because I did not know about their talented mimicry. When I hear them, they tend to always make their standard squawky sound, while the bluejays near me often switch their voices to completely different sounds continually in a short time period. Thanks Lesley!
On a recent roadtrip, I stopped by Bijoux Falls Prov Park in BC where there were dozens of these Jays watching the day-use area. Not as daring as the Grey Jay, but pretty close.
My son has a Stuffed Animal Steller Jay and he loves it! Thank you so much for sharing these videos! Have a Steller Day! The most interesting fact was how Steller Jays can mimic other birds! So interesting!!!💙💙💙
I’ve always loved the “tire track” pattern on their backs! Extremely cheeky little buggers, but also very compatible with the right friendly humans, so long as you have an endless supply of black oil seeds, and unsalted peanuts in shell
They like corn too. I usually feed a mix if corn and black oil sunflower seeds, with a few peanuts mixed in. They go for the peanuts first, then the corn, then the sunflower seeds. They won't eat any of the sunflower seeds until the corn is gone.
I live in south central AK. and there is a breeding pair that hang out in my area every summer the past ten years or so. If I neglect to clean out the rain gutters they'll do their best to help me by throwing the moss and dirt on the sidewalk while looking for insects. I must do better with giving unsalted peanuts. I see the magpies a lot more than the Steller Jay's. Great video Lesley.
Thank you for the video! When I lived in Medford, OR on the Valley floor, about six years ago a flock over-wintered. They emptied the feeders. Very interesting and beautiful birds! They're huge compared with other jays and incredibly loud. In spring they left, never to return. Now living in the Portland area, I've run into flocks along the Springwater Trail in Gresham. Distinctive call and extremely argumentative birds! I expect they'll move on, but may over-winter here because of the abundance of food in the area.
I saw a Steller's Jay in my backyard here in California a couple weeks ago, and I couldn't believe my eyes. Apparently, a sighting is rare where I live. I've been dying to see another ever since.
I find listening to your commentary enhances watching the birds you present to us. And when I get wearied by Political or Religious debate, I turn to videos of nature to find a sense of inner peace. Thank you.
Cool birds! I'm on the East Coast US, so I don't see them either. I was surprised to learn how widespread they are! I also thought the last video clip of a jay getting the peanut on the string was pretty amazing...nice flying skills! Thanks for another terrific and informative video!😊
they can do a barrel roll and time it so they pass between the vertical posts on the deck rails without a pause or hiccup and make it look so easy as to be routine
I got to see my first Steller's jay this August in Riudoso, NM. It would quietly fly onto a low branch in a pine tree and work its way up to the very top of the tree before flying off, only to return about 10 minutes later to do it again. It was difficult to get a decent photo because that beautiful blue color perfectly blends into the shadows of the trees!
Mimicking is definitely something I didn't know about the Steller Jays. Or cross breeding. Wish we had more of them in my part of the state. Western Wyoming has a lot of them. I'm in Northern Central Wyoming. Thank you to everyone who provided pictures and videos of this beautiful bird. And you too Leslie for making a video about them! 💙🖤💙🖤
So excited to see your video about Steller’s Jay. 👏 I saw one for the first time today during my morning hike in a local park. 😀 Very happy to learn more about them from you. Thank you Leslie 🥰🤗
Hi Leslie! Where I live in Northern California we have a good population of Steller’s here. I have quite a few that stop by every morning for their unsalted peanuts in the shell which they really enjoy! I first knew of them as a child when my Mom referred to them as “Camp Robbers” at our family picnics. And Leslie I envy you your beautiful Eastern Jay!
Thank you for featuring these beautiful birds! I have a “party” of Steller’s Jays every morning who love peanuts in the shell! I absolutely love their “eyebrows”! They mimic my large flock of crows! 💖
Очень умные и красивые птицы.Дочь установила несколько кормушек .Когда хорошая погода они прилетают.А летом они прилетели со своими птенцами ,мы угощали их вареными яйцами.
We have the Steller's Jay here in the mountains of Southern California. I would just LOVE to see a hybrid Blue/Steller Jay! That's going to have to be on my Lifers List now 😊💙🐦
When in town (Tacoma, WA) on the Pacific Slope, whenever I heard a rather dulcet Redtailed Hawk call, I'd look around for a Steller's Jay. Yep. Now I live too inland for them and miss 'em.
I've never heard of them before, but they do resemble my favorite, the Blue Jay, in a lot of ways, so I hope one might visit me sometime so I can see for myself!
Thanks - I'm happy to see the Steller's Jays get their own episode! We live in the Seattle suburbs, and Steller's Jays are a fixture at the back yard bird feeder. They LOVE their peanuts, and often glide right past my head as soon as I put peanuts in the feeder - they can't wait for me to get out of their way! Here are some fun behaviors I've observed: - They always go for the unshelled peanuts first, even when shelled peanuts are available. When the unshelled ones are gone, then they start stuffing their crops with the shelled peanuts. - They all seem to engage in "shopping" behavior - they'll pick up a peanut, shake it, put down, pick up another one, shake it, etc. until they find the "right" one. Some of them repeat this process 5-6 times before settling on the best one. - Many of them also do what I call the "trade-in". After grabbing a peanut, they'll fly back to the feeder carrying the first peanut, then go through the shopping process (see above). - Like you mention in the video, they seem to have a hierarchy that determines who gets to go peanut shopping first. Occasionally, I'll see two of them fighting over a peanut (even though there are plenty of other peanuts). My guess is that somebody went out-of-turn and is getting taught a lesson in manners ;)
here in Oregon in the end of winter, the brilliant blue flash of these birds brings joy to my heart. So nice to have that burst of color after a long winter. I had one breeding pair when I moved here 35 years ago, now I have an entire flock. One of my favorites.
Lesley -Steller’s Jays have never dive bombed me, a behavior that I have heard is very common for Blue Jays. Also, they are very smart! I used to feed one peanuts in the shell. If I wasn’t up early enough, it found out where my bedroom was and he’d knock on my window as if to say, “Wake up, you dozy chick! It’s peanut o’clock!” 😹😹😹 And yes, he did an amazing mimicry of the red tailed hawk, which is a common bird in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. He certainly fooled me! I also had suet out for him, and I’d put black sunflower seeds into it. He had to share with the woodpeckers (downy & hairy woodpeckers, flickers, and pileated woodpeckers) though. ✌🏼💖
Nice compilation of clips of a bird not found in your neighborhood. With the breadth of your following, you can spread your wings and visit every corner of our world!
Thank you for such wonderful content! I just moved back to Oregon and I work outside. We have lots of Steller's Jays here in southern Oregon. At one location where I was working, I kept hearing a Red-tailed hawk scream, but could never find it. After watching your video I am convinced it was a Steller's Jay messing with me! How fun! Thank you!
Steller's Jays are super common in the San Gabriel Mountains in So Calif. All throughout the day you can hear their sassy calls throughout the forest. I just love these birds and love sitting quietly and feeding them peanuts.
My Mother was from California and she had an Aunt in the Salinas/Monterey area. She lived in a well wooded neighborhood with many large trees, including pines. She would keep raw, whole peanuts for the squirrels. As a kid, I had a great time watching the Steller's Jay's trying to separate the peanuts from the squirrels. They would gang up and harass the squirrel, trying to get it to drop the peanut. Sometimes it would work, sometimes not.
I am blessed to have a family of Stellers Jays coming around for many years to load up on almonds, dried bugs, suet cakes and other delicacies while entertaining the family. They come right into the house and make themselves at home perching wherever and helping themselves to the dogs kibble. If there are no almonds out they will screech and tap on the jar, if the door is closed they will go around to each of the windows looking for a human then they will tap on the window or just sit there looking in. They compete with the squirrels for nuts, the squirrels dont like to share but the Jays easily outwit them and they have the ability to carry 5 or six at a time while the squirrel takes one. They bring their noisy fledglings in the spring to hang out on the feeder and learn the ropes. So there will be 4 or 5 of them for a couple of months but usually they are down to 2 or 3 by fall. I have never seen more than 5 together and i have never heard them make anything but screeching cacophonous not pleasant noises. Their behavior reminds me more of Canadian Jays which we call camp robbers here in Alaska as they are fearless food takers that will land on your head and steal your sandwich while you try and eat it. I get down to California often and see plenty of Blue Jays which are great fun to watch but not nearly as social or brazen in their behaviors as my northern beauties.
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The Bluejay looks like a the luxury Jay where the Stellers looks like the sport option. 💙
LOL
Scrub jays are the cheap sedan you got for $2k on marketplace
We really enjoyed their antics-there were quite a few until out-of-control development flattened enough trees in our neighborhood to drive them out. We got used to hearing their calls that we thought of as "the rusty push-mower." That, and watching them carefully deciding among which peanuts to pick up. "This one? (picks it up) Nope. (drops it) How about this one? (picks it up) Nope. (drops it)" That'd go on for quite a while, with the jay often picking up the first one he'd rejected and flying off with it. The cream of the crop sighting was the day five or six of them landed on our deck and proceeded to play leap-frog. I don't know how else to describe it. There was no food on the deck. They were repeatedly jumping over the top of each other and hopping around all over the place. I don't know what to conclude except that it sure looked like playing for playing's sake.
A couple of them learned that pecking at a glass skylight would signal "time for you to give me a peanut"-and it worked. We'd get up and toss a few peanuts outside every time. They even taught that trick to the next generation. We sure miss 'em.
That's an awesome story about them. I would love to have some at my place.
We have awful developers tearing out 100 yr plus coastal Live Oaks to out in cheap duplexes
No laws exist on our Island
Its a travesty
I feed Steller's Jays at my home in Colorado and I have observed similar behavior with peanuts. My guess is that they are trying to find the heaviest one.
@@lovepet4565 I'm entirely cynical about my "woke" city's supposed commitment to "reducing carbon footprint." They're content to have lots of trees removed for development, having apparently forgotten that trees remove carbon from the atmosphere and put oxygen back into it. Further, despite all the fol-de-rol in campaign speeches about reducing carbon footprint: How could heavily increased urban density _not_ increase carbon output? The whole business would be laughable if it weren't pernicious and dishonest. Lots of lying going on.
What’s really funny is watching one who can’t decide which peanut to take try to take them all. Cramming their beaks with peanuts and dropping them, getting frustrated over it. XD Meanwhile other jays and squirrels are swooping in and running off with individual peanuts while this poor goof tries to run off with the whole thing.
We have Steller’s Jays here in Eugene, Oregon. Over the 20 years we have lived here, my husband befriended several of them, hand feeding them peanuts and teaching them tricks like tapping on the kitchen window to ask for peanuts. Several generations of them have taught their chicks to come to our yard and tap on the window. My husband was an artist, and trained his favorite Steller’s Jay, who he called Blue Brow, to pose on a certain twig outside the studio so he could paint the bird’s portrait. Their mimicry is very charming. Sometimes I’ll put some peanuts on the deck for them, and they will make the Red Tailed Hawk cry to scare away other birds. They have also learned to mimic the squeak of the kitchen door. They’re such personalities, and it has been a pleasure to have them as neighbors.
Great comments & stories about your husband and the Steller’s Jay / Mountain Jay. Thank you Jae McDonald.
I grew up around these birds, and I honestly don’t know anybody who dislikes them.
Their ability at mimicry is astounding. Sounds just like the red-tailed hawk. Where I live is supposed to be within their range so I'm going to start keeping my eyes out for them.
They are such cool birds. Here in western Oregon, they show up in town more often during the fall and winter. Hope you’ll see some soon!
We dont get them here in the CA central valley, we get Scrub Jays though.
Yeah I don't have them much in my part of Wyoming but the western part has a lot of them. Beautiful bird!
Yes! One of my neighborhood jays is an excellent mimic and can sound like a hawk, crow, and seagull.
You'll probably hear them before you see them - they're quite vocal!
I love Steller's jays, thank you! They're such rascals. Though I first knew blue jays, being from New Hampshire, I spent 40 years in western Washington state where they're as common as crows. I've got too many funny stories to share here! One thing I saw, though, were a pair of parents encouraging their fledging to exercise its wings. One was at the top of the house I lived next to, and the other on a branch. They took turns calling to the baby so it would have to fly back and forth, lol. They make incredible parents, like all corvids seem to. I live "back east" again in Ohio and have been loving the blue jays once again, when I can see them. They and the crows hang out down the road from me, at the Great Miami River that I live near to.
I used to work in Yosemite. We got a meal card that was good at the tourist cafeterias. In the summer I'd eat my breakfast outside on the patio. Some days yellow jackets would swarm my bacon. I'd flick one with my spoon and it would land on the ground dazed and spinning circles. A friendly Steller's Jay would swoop down out of a nearby pine tree, gobble up the yellow jacket, and then fly back up to his branch about 15 feet up and overhanging the patio. One by one the two of us would work as a team to clear out the yellow jackets. That Steller's Jay was a worldwide celebrity. Every morning there would anywhere from 2 to a dozen or more tourists taking pics of him gobbling up yellow jackets. Those mornings always put a smile on my face.
Yaaay! I like Steller’s Jays and hate yellow jackets -y j are just pure mean!! I used to feed a Steller’s Jay peanuts in the shell. If I didn’t wake up early enough for his liking, he found out where I slept and he’d knock on my window! “Wake up, you dozy chick! It’s peanut o’clock!” 😹😹😹 ✌🏼💖
@@YvetteArby That's funny he'd tap on your window. Yellow jackets are all over the Sierras. When we'd go camping, to keep them from swarming our campsite, I'd stick a slice of bacon to a tree about 100-150 feet away. The yellow jackets would swarm the slice of bacon instead and the only time we'd see one is when it was making a beeline through our camp to get to the bacon. In 2-3 days they'd devour the slice of bacon. It always amazed me how quick the little guys could go through a slice of raw bacon.
@@LuckyBaldwin777 Wow! That’s a great idea to keep them away!! I’ll have to remember that trick! ✌🏼💖
@@YvetteArby If you're ever out camping and get bothered by yellow jackets, take a slice of raw bacon and stick it to a tree about 100 feet from your campsite. The yellow jackets will swarm the bacon and leave your campsite alone. Be careful because the little guys will devour the slice of bacon in a couple of days and you'll need to hang up another one.
@@LuckyBaldwin777 I like the idea of “feeding them” to the Jays much better than feeding THEM! We’re in Georgia where Yellow Jackets are a total menace. (I don’t mean the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, of course.) I wish our birds weren’t so well fed here in the Southeast, because I would love to see a bunch of Blue Jays wipe out every one of them. Loved your story. My husband and I fell in love with Steller’s Jays the first time we went to New Mexico, in 1983, and always look forward to seeing them on our next trip. Fine critters!
I did an illustration of Steller’s Jays for an article on sub-species differences and really enjoyed learning more about them. Here in western Oregon, we get the Coastal sub-species. In addition to the differences in coloration and marking, there are also strong differences in crest length between the sub-species. Such cool birds! I never tire of seeing or hearing them! 💙 Thanks for another great video, Lesley! With gratitude, Tara Kate
Have you ever seen any of the hybrids?
Aww, how wonderful and thanks for sharing that bit of info on the difference in appearance. Have a great Sunday Evening.
the stellar s Jay is beautiful 🥰🥰
yeah stellar jays 😊
I like name mountain Jay😊
Here in Seattle, I'm lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a roving gang of Stellers every morning when they bang on my screen door demanding peanuts and any loose change I might have on me. They're super hyper and noisy, and they make your Blue Jays seem like librarians in comparison. My favorite sound they make sounds like a cartoon horse. I've been trying to get them to land on my hand like the way you do, but so far it just gets them more and more agitated until I just give up and throw a bunch of peanuts into the yard and they screech like maniacs while they battle for the best peanut; they always have to do some sophisticated A/B weight testing before the decide which one to take, and it's total chaos while a bunch of them are doing this at once, and they also seem to be able to scream their lungs out whilst still holding a big peanut in their mouth.
They've learned to raise heck outside my bedroom window if I sleep in too late. Hi from Olympia!
That sounds like the flocks we have over on the East side in Bellevue.
Send some over to Sand Lake Michigan 👍, about 25 miles north of Grand Rapids. I just have the Blue Jay's, but they are pretty 😎 cool.
@MiFi Stanwood, ? In which State there is a Morley Stanwood, in Michigan just south of Big Rapids
@MiFi My feeder isn't as active this year, I only put in about a quart of black oil seeds in every other day, and their doesn't seem to be as many bird's around. Lesley the Bird Nerd said that their was a disease killing the birds this past summer and to keep your feeders clean. I don't know if any of my neighbors have feeders either. Maybe when the whether turns colder, and the seed harvest is done, they will return. But I keep all of my bird's happy with peanuts that I put out on my small deck table. I have to shell them for the little chickadees.
When I’ve first seen this bird it, quickly become one of my favorites.
I know there so beautiful and curious, i've never seen one before but i love them
Those hybrid birds were SO pretty!
Yes!
One time, as I ran out to our barn, I saw every cat making haste back to the house, as if fleeing a fire. Curious, I looked around the corner, and saw about twenty or thirty little Steller Jays feasting on cat food, screaming, and generally having a grand old time.
Ever since, I’ve loved them.
I did giggle when I saw you call a mountain jay a “Canadian jay”. I don’t know anyone who calls them that, and I live in Manitoba. My uncle called them “whiskeyjacks”, and sometimes the older folks will call them “grey jays”.
I'm a Colorado native, as was my Mom. she always called Gray Jay/Canada Jays "Camp Robbers". It's a name that suits them. I have run across some in heavily used campgrounds that would steal food right off your plate if you looked away from it for a few seconds.
Steller's Jays in Colorado are usually not quite that bold.
Their official English name was changed in 2018 to Canada jay from gray jay. I know some folks who affectionately call them camp robbers too, a very fitting name indeed!
@@birdiekay686 they don’t need to rob from me, I will give them whatever they want, lol, I just love them.
I have been lucky enough to have them as regular guests at my feeder for years, They are fantastic!
I'd love to see Steller Jays, they're stunning ! They look like a cross between a crow and a blue jay
They are awesome.
(I'll give these guys some scraps for you.)
I have always thought that they looked like a mix between a crow and a Blue Jay with a darker blue plumage, too. I’m glad there is someone out there that concurs. 🙂
Photos don’t do them justice. Their plumage sparkles in the sun, almost like they’ve got tiny sapphires embedded in their feathers. It’s shockingly blue in the right light, almost doesn’t look natural.
I've seen them while hiking in the Rockies, and heard their mimicry. They're a very cool bird to spot.
They are so beautiful!❤️
Terrific video Lesley - thank you for including some of my film too 🥰🙏💙
Thank you! I really enjoyed seeing it.
Oh wow how nice thank you
Beautiful birds. I wish they were on the East Coast.
I would also like to see some of the hybrids in real life!
I was actually lucky enough to hand feed Steller's Jays up at Emerald Lake. Such beautiful birds.
Wow! I had no idea that Jays were so good at mimicking other birds' cries. I could have been fooled by that red-tailed hawk call.
Thank you again Lesley. As I believe that I have said to you before; I have low vision, and by the time that I can focus on the birds, very often but not always, they are gone, so I very much appreciate your videos.
Very cool bird! They are not in my area. So thanks for an informative video!!!!!!
Great video, especially loved the footage of the hawk imitation call. We are so fortunate to have these jays here on the west coast and hear their very unique calls.
No stellar jays in my area, but they visit an eagles nest I watch online. Enjoyed learning about the stellar jay.
Seriously, what type of person would thumbs down any of the videos on this channel? What is wrong that this happens? This is wonderful ❤️
Hey I left a comment about one yesterday :) I haven't seen many of them but I think they're so pretty.
I live on the East Coast, but saw a Steller’s Jay while visiting California coastal redwoods in 2009. I will never forget this lovely bird! Thanks, Lesley!
What gorgeous colours in their plumage. Very interesting video, as always. I loved the picture of the Canada Jay! It has quite a short break unless that was a baby? It was very cute. Being in UK I shall probably never see any of these Jays so I am especially grateful for these beautiful images and the narrative info.
Yep. I think the Canada Jay, including the adults have a shorter beak than the other Jays. I agree that it does give them more of a cute look, along with the beady eyes and puffy cheeks. 🥰
I loved seeing the offspring from the blue jay with the Steller’s jay. So cool. Thanks for this video♥️. Gorgeous bird!
Steller also named several other animals including Steller's sea cow.
Also, the Steller’s Sea Eagle (which is a lovely eagle, BTW). Their range is mostly in Russia and Japan (and I think Alaska, too), but I saw one at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last year.
Ah, I miss seeing Steller's jays. My last field season on the Oregon Coast Range involved a lot of sitting in one spot in order to survey for an endangered seabird call a marbled murrelet. I would often hear and watch Steller's jays, and at one site there was a jay who had a passable imitation of a red-tailed hawk call. One of my close friends lives near Seattle and has made friends with a pair of Steller's who come to feed on the nuts she and her husband buys for them.
I see many of them in our property here in suburban Vancouver. They have become so tame they even flew to me for peanuts after I named some of them, coming when I called their name. I live in a Condo so I had to stop giving them food, as they would bury the nuts in other resident’s planters and dig up their plants to retrieve them. Beautiful birds though!
Great…now you’ve added another bird I need to find! But that’s okay
Another beautiful bird brought to us by a wonderful creator!!!!!! Fun watching them take a bird bath. Thank you!!
I was so fascinated at the hybrid types! So beautiful! Thanks for sharing as always! 🥰
Go up to a higher elevation lake in
So.Ore. and they line up in front of your cabin. You get more than a glimpse.
I've eaten lunch in a favorite mountain cafe
with these guys looking in the window..
Up by the register, they sell jay and chipmonk food.
Yes, you would enjoy them.
I am blessed to be surrounded with these smart and vibrant birds. They will tap on my window( sometimes too early lol) looking for a peanut. They also play very nicely with the other birds and animals that frequent my feeders.
That’s very true. They’ll happily share a feeder with smaller birds and each other. See them a lot with chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, and finches, and they just go about their business. Very social birds.
Here in the San Francisco Bay Area I think of Scrub Jays as the "in-town" jay, and Steller's Jays as the "just outside of town" jay. We just don't have enough trees in town for the Steller's, with a few exceptions along creeks - seeing them at those spots is always pretty exciting. They're so striking! Of course, once you head into the Sierras for some camping, Steller's Jays practically own the place.
I'm glad they have a lot in common with Blue Jays because it helps me understand a lot of your Blue Jay content. I've never seen one in real life.
The picture of the four nestlings would made a great cover for a singing quartet's Christmas album.
Beautiful bird and as always an excellent video, Lesley! Steller must have been a fortunate man indeed, to be one of the first of those discovering birds from a scientific perspective in an as yet unspoilt wilderness. The majestic Steller's Sea Eagle and gorgeous Steller's Eider are also named after him.
I live in Seattle and love these crazy birds. I find it so cool that they sometimes interbreed with bluejays!
Mimicking others birds, very cool. Especially love their plumage. 💙🐦
Thanks for the great video! Stellar's Jays are some of my faves, I feed a mated pair in my backyard, as does my buddy across town. He told me that if I put out unshelled peanuts they will come and stash them and if the supply is out they will learn to come to the window and tap on the outside to get more. Sure enough, within a month of starting to do this I got 'the knock'.
I'm pleased that you were able to video the mimics of red tailed hawks and crows, a fellow naturalist and I were trying to find a red tailed hawk in the marsh that would call out and wasn't visible in the trees, only to be found a month or so later to be a Stellar's Jay in the conifer next to us. It looked either embarrassed to have been found out or amused, take it as you will.
What a beautiful bird! 😍
Awesome and beautiful .
Awesome. Thanks. I grew up with magpies and crows, but these birds are way more fun. Since moving out to the PACNW, I have the good fortune of having a family in our yard. Their 2nd generation has accepted us and our peanut-handouts, and they are a blast. They mimic a cat if they see a cat, and they mimic a hawk likewise.
💙🖤💙💙💙🖤💙💙
Truely Beautiful Birds🐦!!~*Great coverage of these lovely feathered friends❤!!~*
We do not have them here in Pennsylvania either!! Most intresting is they and our Eastern Blue Jay are interbreeding, Wow!!~*
I love those hybrids you mentioned! I'd love to see them in person one day too. 💙
They are so expressive, with the head cocking and the crest bobbing about indicating mood, or maybe just getting a better look. and the different eyebrows on coastal and interior versions. They can be a bit intimidating to some of the smaller birds visiting the feeders here, but I've also seen them being chased through the trees by feisty hummingbirds. They always seem to be up to some drama though. I had one visit my campsite and boldly break into my hazelnuts in seconds, it also discovered it could fit not 1 but 3 cheerios in it's beak at once. So greedy.
Thanks for the wonderful video! I never had the pleasure of seeing a Steller's Jay, but I hope to some time. They remind me a lot of Blue Jays, also. I wonder who would dominate whom at a bird feeder. I never knew there were so many subspecies of Steller's Jays. Very informative and professional video :-)
🥰 cute bird pfp susan
@@micahbirdlover8152 thanks! :-) Every summer, I plant zinnias, and when they go to seed, the goldfinches come and have a feast!
sounds like those goldfinches have a good time
you like mine
They live here where I am in B.C. and I once saw them in the same tree as bluejays when going for a walk. It startled me when I noticed them all looking at me. Birders with out of date information have told me they do not coexist with bluejays, but unfortunately I didn't have a camera or phone with me. This video amazes me because I did not know about their talented mimicry. When I hear them, they tend to always make their standard squawky sound, while the bluejays near me often switch their voices to completely different sounds continually in a short time period. Thanks Lesley!
On a recent roadtrip, I stopped by Bijoux Falls Prov Park in BC where there were dozens of these Jays watching the day-use area. Not as daring as the Grey Jay, but pretty close.
My son has a Stuffed Animal Steller Jay and he loves it! Thank you so much for sharing these videos! Have a Steller Day! The most interesting fact was how Steller Jays can mimic other birds! So interesting!!!💙💙💙
I’ve always loved the “tire track” pattern on their backs! Extremely cheeky little buggers, but also very compatible with the right friendly humans, so long as you have an endless supply of black oil seeds, and unsalted peanuts in shell
They like corn too. I usually feed a mix if corn and black oil sunflower seeds, with a few peanuts mixed in. They go for the peanuts first, then the corn, then the sunflower seeds. They won't eat any of the sunflower seeds until the corn is gone.
Now that you mention it, the pattern on their backs do look like tire tracks. It’s pretty neat, and puts the “stellar” in “Steller”. 🤩
Thanks so much for introducing me to this beautiful Jay I didn’t even know existed. I learned something new today! You are great at what you do.
I need to go out west one day and see one of these!! They are so beautiful, thank you Lesley!!!
I live in south central AK. and there is a breeding pair that hang out in my area every summer the past ten years or so. If I neglect to clean out the rain gutters they'll do their best to help me by throwing the moss and dirt on the sidewalk while looking for insects. I must do better with giving unsalted peanuts. I see the magpies a lot more than the Steller Jay's. Great video Lesley.
I have had the opportunity to see these birds in Colorado. What beautiful birds!
Thank you for the video! When I lived in Medford, OR on the Valley floor, about six years ago a flock over-wintered. They emptied the feeders. Very interesting and beautiful birds! They're huge compared with other jays and incredibly loud. In spring they left, never to return. Now living in the Portland area, I've run into flocks along the Springwater Trail in Gresham. Distinctive call and extremely argumentative birds! I expect they'll move on, but may over-winter here because of the abundance of food in the area.
Well done Ma'am!! I had never heard of the Steller Jay!! Absolutely beautiful bird!!
OMG What a beauty!!!! Thank you. I'm a hug fan of Corbids and Jays particularly, such a group of characters!
I saw a Steller's Jay in my backyard here in California a couple weeks ago, and I couldn't believe my eyes. Apparently, a sighting is rare where I live. I've been dying to see another ever since.
Did not know that the Steller Jay interbred with the Blue Jay. Love this bird, they are fun characters to watch.
I find listening to your commentary enhances watching the birds you present to us. And when I get wearied by Political or Religious debate, I turn to videos of nature to find a sense of inner peace. Thank you.
Lifelong Californian here. These are my favorite bird. Their coloring is beautiful and their call always makes me feel like I’m camping ⛺️
I have never seen one, as I've only lived in the Eastern part of the US. They look wonderful!
I've seen a pair visit my feeder on staten island in febuary
@@ronaldfonti6810 Lucky you!
From NW Washington, these are some of my favorite backyard visitors.
Beautiful bird❤️😊my daughter has these birds at her home in Oakland California, close to San Francisco.
Wow! They are so beautiful and awesome. Thanks for sharing sweetie.
Cool birds! I'm on the East Coast US, so I don't see them either. I was surprised to learn how widespread they are! I also thought the last video clip of a jay getting the peanut on the string was pretty amazing...nice flying skills! Thanks for another terrific and informative video!😊
they can do a barrel roll and time it so they pass between the vertical posts on the deck rails without a pause or hiccup and make it look so easy as to be routine
I got to see my first Steller's jay this August in Riudoso, NM. It would quietly fly onto a low branch in a pine tree and work its way up to the very top of the tree before flying off, only to return about 10 minutes later to do it again. It was difficult to get a decent photo because that beautiful blue color perfectly blends into the shadows of the trees!
I recently moved from Florida to Washington state and have been fascinated by these relatives of the more familiar (to me) Bluejay.
Mimicking is definitely something I didn't know about the Steller Jays. Or cross breeding. Wish we had more of them in my part of the state. Western Wyoming has a lot of them. I'm in Northern Central Wyoming. Thank you to everyone who provided pictures and videos of this beautiful bird. And you too Leslie for making a video about them! 💙🖤💙🖤
I think mimicry is fairly common across all corvids.
is that bold 🦅 Wyoming adventures 🤔
@@micahbirdlover8152 My comment or my profile picture? 🤔
Yay, one of my favourite birds. Thanks.
So excited to see your video about Steller’s Jay. 👏 I saw one for the first time today during my morning hike in a local park. 😀 Very happy to learn more about them from you. Thank you Leslie 🥰🤗
Such a gorgeous bird ! Thanks for this great video Lesley !
Hi Leslie! Where I live in Northern California we have a good population of Steller’s here. I have quite a few that stop by every morning for their unsalted peanuts in the shell which they really enjoy! I first knew of them as a child when my Mom referred to them as “Camp Robbers” at our family picnics. And Leslie I envy you your beautiful Eastern Jay!
Thank you for featuring these beautiful birds! I have a “party” of Steller’s Jays every morning who love peanuts in the shell! I absolutely love their “eyebrows”! They mimic my large flock of crows! 💖
Очень умные и красивые птицы.Дочь установила несколько кормушек .Когда хорошая погода они прилетают.А летом они прилетели со своими птенцами ,мы угощали их вареными яйцами.
We have the Steller's Jay here in the mountains of Southern California. I would just LOVE to see a hybrid Blue/Steller Jay! That's going to have to be on my Lifers List now 😊💙🐦
I grew up near the town of Blue Jay in the SoCal mountains. Take a guess what the town mascot was ;)
@@calibadgerdude6082 🤔🤔🤔😅😅😅
When in town (Tacoma, WA) on the Pacific Slope, whenever I heard a rather dulcet Redtailed Hawk call, I'd look around for a Steller's Jay. Yep. Now I live too inland for them and miss 'em.
I've never heard of them before, but they do resemble my favorite, the Blue Jay, in a lot of ways, so I hope one might visit me sometime so I can see for myself!
What beautiful birds...the colors are so wonderful
My sister in law moved to Oregon, they are plentiful there. On our visit there, I got to sit with my morning coffee and enjoy these beauties.
Lol the mimic. Interesting, thank you Lesley :)
Another great one Nerd, keepem coming! 👍😃✌️
Thanks - I'm happy to see the Steller's Jays get their own episode!
We live in the Seattle suburbs, and Steller's Jays are a fixture at the back yard bird feeder. They LOVE their peanuts, and often glide right past my head as soon as I put peanuts in the feeder - they can't wait for me to get out of their way! Here are some fun behaviors I've observed:
- They always go for the unshelled peanuts first, even when shelled peanuts are available. When the unshelled ones are gone, then they start stuffing their crops with the shelled peanuts.
- They all seem to engage in "shopping" behavior - they'll pick up a peanut, shake it, put down, pick up another one, shake it, etc. until they find the "right" one. Some of them repeat this process 5-6 times before settling on the best one.
- Many of them also do what I call the "trade-in". After grabbing a peanut, they'll fly back to the feeder carrying the first peanut, then go through the shopping process (see above).
- Like you mention in the video, they seem to have a hierarchy that determines who gets to go peanut shopping first. Occasionally, I'll see two of them fighting over a peanut (even though there are plenty of other peanuts). My guess is that somebody went out-of-turn and is getting taught a lesson in manners ;)
Thanks for another awesome video 🐦😁👍
I can hear all the Steller's outside my window while watching this. such goofballs.
Very attractive little fellow. Great singer ! Wonderful little creatures...I Love you blue 🌹🕊stunning
here in Oregon in the end of winter, the brilliant blue flash of these birds brings joy to my heart. So nice to have that burst of color after a long winter. I had one breeding pair when I moved here 35 years ago, now I have an entire flock. One of my favorites.
Very good!! I've never seen them!! and the hybrids...awesome 👍👍😎😉
Lesley -Steller’s Jays have never dive bombed me, a behavior that I have heard is very common for Blue Jays. Also, they are very smart! I used to feed one peanuts in the shell. If I wasn’t up early enough, it found out where my bedroom was and he’d knock on my window as if to say, “Wake up, you dozy chick! It’s peanut o’clock!” 😹😹😹 And yes, he did an amazing mimicry of the red tailed hawk, which is a common bird in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. He certainly fooled me! I also had suet out for him, and I’d put black sunflower seeds into it. He had to share with the woodpeckers (downy & hairy woodpeckers, flickers, and pileated woodpeckers) though. ✌🏼💖
Blue Jays only dive bomb you if you’re near an active nest. Otherwise they’re too busy!
Nice compilation of clips of a bird not found in your neighborhood. With the breadth of your following, you can spread your wings and visit every corner of our world!
Thank you for such wonderful content! I just moved back to Oregon and I work outside. We have lots of Steller's Jays here in southern Oregon. At one location where I was working, I kept hearing a Red-tailed hawk scream, but could never find it. After watching your video I am convinced it was a Steller's Jay messing with me! How fun! Thank you!
oh WOW those hybrids are beauuutiful!
Steller's Jays are super common in the San Gabriel Mountains in So Calif. All throughout the day you can hear their sassy calls throughout the forest. I just love these birds and love sitting quietly and feeding them peanuts.
My Mother was from California and she had an Aunt in the Salinas/Monterey area. She lived in a well wooded neighborhood with many large trees, including pines. She would keep raw, whole peanuts for the squirrels. As a kid, I had a great time watching the Steller's Jay's trying to separate the peanuts from the squirrels. They would gang up and harass the squirrel, trying to get it to drop the peanut. Sometimes it would work, sometimes not.
5:00 one of the cutest bird calls i've ever heard! 😭
I am blessed to have a family of Stellers Jays coming around for many years to load up on almonds, dried bugs, suet cakes and other delicacies while entertaining the family. They come right into the house and make themselves at home perching wherever and helping themselves to the dogs kibble. If there are no almonds out they will screech and tap on the jar, if the door is closed they will go around to each of the windows looking for a human then they will tap on the window or just sit there looking in. They compete with the squirrels for nuts, the squirrels dont like to share but the Jays easily outwit them and they have the ability to carry 5 or six at a time while the squirrel takes one. They bring their noisy fledglings in the spring to hang out on the feeder and learn the ropes. So there will be 4 or 5 of them for a couple of months but usually they are down to 2 or 3 by fall. I have never seen more than 5 together and i have never heard them make anything but screeching cacophonous not pleasant noises. Their behavior reminds me more of Canadian Jays which we call camp robbers here in Alaska as they are fearless food takers that will land on your head and steal your sandwich while you try and eat it. I get down to California often and see plenty of Blue Jays which are great fun to watch but not nearly as social or brazen in their behaviors as my northern beauties.