CLOSED: Western Scrub Jay

I just got back from a wonderful trip to Big Bend National Park & Davis Mountains State Park in far West Texas. These photos were taken in the Davis Mountains State Park on 2/17/2010.

This pic is of a Western Scrub Jay. The next pic is of a different bird. It could be a Western Scrub Jay also, but I'm wondering if it could be a hybrid of Western Scrub Jay & Mexican Jay? The other fairly common Jay in this area is the Pinyon Jay, but it has a short tail.


This message was edited Feb 22, 2010 9:53 PM

This message was edited Feb 22, 2010 9:54 PM

Could this be a hybrid of Western Scrub Jay & Mexican Jay? Notice that the beak is Blue and the legs are blue and the cheeks aren't really black but dark blue. What do you think?

I would say your 2nd shot is also a Western Scrub-Jay (inland form). Some one else may see differently though.

I agree with Burd, Western Scrub-Jay.

Greg

They're both Western Scrub Jays, the first is a west coast one (Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens), the second an interior one (Aphelocoma coerulescens woodhousei).

I've seen some suggestions that the two subspecies will be split as two different species in the future, but it hasn't been done officially yet.

Resin

Thanks, Burd, Slobird & Res! I thought they looked slightly different. That explains the subtle differences.

Nice photo. I guess I hadn't realized how blue their legs are...