Aphelocoma Californica, California Scrub-jay

Day 338: In 2016, the American Ornithological Union determined that the western race of scrub-jay was comprised of two sufficiently distinct species and separated them into their own taxons, Aphelocoma woodhouseii and Aphelocoma californica. The "new" California Scrub-jay is larger and brighter in colour than Woodhouse's, and its bill is heavier. Its range extends from southern British Columbia through the coastal states and Baja; on the other hand, Woodhouse's Scrub-jay resides inland in the southwest desert. Many people call either bird a "blue jay," but despite being both a jay and blue, that term only applies to the eastern Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata. Perhaps the most noticeable characteristic for distinguishing the two where their ranges overlap is the lack of a crest on the Scrub-jay's head. In fact, its taxonomy describes it: "aphelo-" meaning "smooth" and "-coma" means "hair." California Scrub-jays are most commonly found in oak groves like those of the southwest Washington prairies, but for the last several years, Scrubby has come for a brief stay here in the mountains. I hope he leaves some of those mountain-ash berries for the Waxwings.