Family: Corvidae, Crows, Magpies, Jays view all from this family

Description 11" (28 cm). Robin-sized, but large strong bill and long tail make it appear larger. Head, wings, and tail blue (conspicuous when it glides in a long, undulating flight); back pale gray-brown; underparts pale with faint brown streaks. No crest; black eyemask; whitish forehead. White throat offset by blue necklace.

Endangered Status The Florida Scrub-Jay is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It is classified as threatened throughout its range in Florida. Like many other Florida wildlife species, the scrub-jay has declined as its habitat has succumbed to development. Remaining habitat has been fragmented and degraded, and existing populations are small and isolated. This makes them vulnerable to any change to their environment, as an entire population can be wiped out at once. In some areas the rate of mortality appears to exceed the rate at which the populations is reproducing. A long-term problem for this species could be rising sea levels caused by global warming, as their remaining habitat could easily become inundated.

Habitat Scrub oak, pine scrub, sandhills.

Nesting 3-6 eggs, spotted on darker, greenish or reddish base, in a twiggy nest well hidden in a tree or dense shrub. Young of previous year help parents raise next year's brood.

Range Resident in peninsular Florida south to northern edge of Everglades.

Voice   Song: trills and high warbles. Call: loud harsh shreep.

Similar Species The Florida Scrub Jay is listed as threatened.

Discussion The Florida Scrub-Jay is separated from its closest relative, the Western Scrub-Jay, by a distance of 1,000 miles (1,600 km). Like all jays, this species may be secretive and silent around its nest or while perching in a treetop in early morning but is frequently noisy and conspicuous. Scrub-jays often eat the eggs or young of other birds, but in summer they are mainly insectivorous. They also eat acorns and bury many more acorns than they consume, helping regenerate oak forests that have been destroyed by fire or drought.