Pinyon Jay

Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus

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Identification

27 cm (10-11") Common. Western United States. Pinyon-juniper, yellow pines, sagebrush, farmlands.

Dull blue overall. Head is uncrested. Throat has white streaks. Long spiky bill. Short blue tail. Shaped like and acts like a small crow.

Direct flight and gathers in flocks like crows.

Song: in flight a high pitched "mew", chattering.

Watch and learn

2 videos

Pinyon Jay in Joshua Tree

Credit: siddsvids

Pinyon Jay - San Diego County

Credit: cpwm17

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

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.

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 5

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Blue · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Blue · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Blue · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Blue · 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:900-pinyon-jay:1:1 Source: 900 Pinyon Jay, row 1