Mexican Jay

Aphelocoma ultramarina

Also known as:Gray-breasted Jay

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Identification

Field notes

29 cm (11-12") Common. Southwestern United States. Oak, oak-pine forests.

Blue head with no crest. Blue wings. Long blue tail. Gray throat and breast. Told from similar Scrub Jay by its more uniform upper and underparts; there is no distinctive white throat and breast band. Arizona immatures may have a yellow bill.

Was called Gray-breasted Jay.

Song: loud "week".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

2 photos

Credit: Alan Vernon

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Mexican Jay

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 5

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Blue · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Blue · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:896-mexican-jay:1:1 Source: 896 Mexican Jay, row 1