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Post by Ben on Feb 16, 2019 10:09:26 GMT -8
Hi everyone, Spotted this Jay this AM at my place. I'm hoping for a Woodhouse's I've got more pictures, but I don't know if they would add anything... I'm seeing a greyish breast (with maybe some blue mixed in), some blue on the undertail. No strong contrast on the breastband. Maybe it's that possible hybrid STJA x CASJ, but I can't find that thread to compare with...
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Jay
Feb 16, 2019 11:21:15 GMT -8
Post by Gord on Feb 16, 2019 11:21:15 GMT -8
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Jay
Mar 14, 2019 21:47:02 GMT -8
Post by Gord on Mar 14, 2019 21:47:02 GMT -8
I finally saw this fine fellow yesterday on Stevenson Road and had a good look. It was with a Steller's Jay, whom I think it's paired up with, and at first I didn't pick it out. It was very similar in size and structure to the Steller's Jay and without the pale belly it didn't stick out. I had seen the Scrub-Jay near the school just 20 minutes before with some Steller's and it is quite different even at a distance. When I checked with binoculars and it shifted its position a bit I realized it was the bird I've been trying to see for a little while. I was interested that its voice was not typical Scrub-Jay but then with jays and crows who knows what sounds they're making. The blue belly, dark barring on the secondary wing feathers and a very slight crest was observed such as seen in the photos. I talked with Marshall who handles the taxonomy element of eBird and agrees it can't be anything but a hybrid with a Steller's Jay given the traits photographed and I've seen. He has added the 'species' to the next update which is due in August. This is likely the first documentation of the hybrid which is pretty neat! Here's some pretty bad photos of it. The slight crest can be seen by way of longer feathers on the crown. It's very subtle. Dsc_9193 by Gord G, on Flickr Barring on the secondary feathers shows even at a distance and a bad photo Dsc_9192 by Gord G, on Flickr One can kind of see what I mean a bit easy to miss at a casual glance given the blue and dark grey belly Dsc_9187 by Gord G, on Flickr It is interesting that not more Steller's Jay shows through in this bird. It's hard to say how the genes choose to present itself but I wonder if this bird backcrossed with a Scrub-Jay to have it dominate over the Steller's genes. If it is paired up and breeds, the offspring may be quite interesting and may look more 50/50 Scrub x Steller's. Worth watching out for.
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Jay
Mar 15, 2019 4:34:23 GMT -8
Post by nickinthegarden on Mar 15, 2019 4:34:23 GMT -8
I wonder if hybrids are not more common than we realize. Steller's Jays do not likely get a lot of experienced eyes checking them out that often as they are fairly common in our area. The subtle differences would be missed easily or dismissed as a lighting issue with the high contrast feather color. Excellent birding on your guys parts, great eyes!
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Jay
Mar 15, 2019 20:38:52 GMT -8
Post by Gord on Mar 15, 2019 20:38:52 GMT -8
Thanks, Nick! It is pretty neat to document the first of this hybrid far as I've seen anyway.
They might get missed and as the California Scrub Jay continues to move northwards, there may be more hybrids. I have a feeling this won't be common as time goes on and more California Scrub Jays are available to pair up with each other though. The Robertson School bird has not appeared to have bred that has been noticed anyway and it has been around a few years now. Last few times I've seen it it has been either alone or with three or four Steller's.
Probably the best thing to watch for on a suspect hybrid is the belly as it is the highest contrast part between the two species. It will likely show any influence of hybridization. Any amount of blue feathers there will indicate a hybrid as pure Scrub Jays do not have that.
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