How to Identify aFlorida Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma coerulescens · 9.1–11 in (23–28 cm)
Male vs. female
Male
Soft blue head, wings and tail with a pale gray back, whitish forehead and eyebrow, and gray-white underparts. Sexes look alike.
Female
Identical to the male in the field.
Male photo: VvAndromedavV / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Second photo: Sandhillcrane / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Field marks
- Whitish forehead band above the bill
- Pale gray back between blue wings
- No crest and no necklace
- Found only in Florida sand scrub
Similar species
What it sounds like
A rasping, rising "shreep" and a range of low rattles within the family group.
Behaviour that gives it away
Lives in family groups where grown offspring stay to help raise the next brood, and a sentinel keeps watch while others feed.
Habitat & range
Fire-maintained oak scrub on sandy soils in peninsular Florida only.
When you'll see it
Present all year in southeastern North America.
What it eats
Acorns, insects, lizards and small vertebrates.
Did you know?
It is the only bird species found exclusively in Florida, and is federally threatened as its scrub habitat disappears.
Spot one yourself?
Point your camera at any bird and Aviarist identifies it in seconds — then logs it to your life list.
Get Aviarist on Google Play
More backyard birds
Other apps we make
