Aphelocomajays are slightly larger than the Blue Jay and differ in having a longer tail, slightly shorter, more rounded wings, and no crest on the head.
Aphelocomajays are quite vocal and have a huge range of sounds and calls; common calls include a cheek, cheek, cheek and a guttural churring krr'r'r'r'r.
Aphelocomajays are also, like all other jays, oftentimes quite aggressive at feeding areas, and sometimes regarded as a nuisance.
en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Aphelocoma (675 words)
[No title](Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-20)
In 1969 I resumed a study of the Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina) that was based on the ability to recognize individuals in a natural population by means of unique combinations of colored bands (Brown, 1970).
Brown, J.L. Cooperative breeding and altruistic behaviour in the Mexican jay, Aphelocoma ultramarina.
Peterson, A. Philopatry and genetic differentation in the Aphelocomajays (Corvidae).
ABSTRACT.-We observed Mexican Jays (Aphelocoma ultramarina) and Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) from June 2000 to March 2001, recording interspecific associations and interactions.
Flickers were seen with jays only once in summer, but they were observed together 62 times in winter, in mixed flocks of up to 20 jays and 12 flickers, while jays were alone only 4 times, and flickers were alone 31 times.
The present study was inspired by casual but repeated observations of apparent interspecific associations between flocks of Mexican Jays (Aphelocoma ultramarina) and one or more Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus), in an oak savanna in southeastern Arizona where one of us (C.E.B.) had been conducting field work on other topics over the preceding 25 years.
The proposed permit would authorize the incidental take of a threatened species, the Florida scrub jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens, incidental to construction of a 11.29 acre residential development consisting of 38 single family residences and associated infrastructure.
The subdivision will be known as Coconute Pointe II (Project), and is located on the west side of State Road A1A, south of an existing development known as Outdoor Resorts and north of an existing development known as The Hamptons, in the city of Melbourne Beach, Brevard County, Florida.
The Service is soliciting data on Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens in order to assist in the requirement of the intra-Service consultation.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens is geographically isolated from other subspecies of scrub jays found in Mexico and the Western United States.
The no action alternative may result in loss of habitat for Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens and exposure of the Applicant under Section 9 of the Act.
A third alternative is the proposed Project that is designed to reduce the impacts to Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens by restricting the Project's total buildable area.
The vernacular name Floridajay is often used for this bird (01,03,04) and it is included in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act list as the species name Aphelocoma coerulecens (scrub jay).
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S. territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian tribal law.
The subspecies is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-711 et seq.) under the species name Aphelocoma coerulescens (scrub jay) (50 CFR 10.13).
IngentaConnect Geographic variation in Mexican jays (Aphelocoma ultramarina): lo...(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-20)
IngentaConnect Geographic variation in Mexican jays (Aphelocoma ultramarina): lo...
Alternatively, ancient hybridization, followed by selection for scrub-jay like traits in some Mexican jay populations, might have given rise to the observed variation.
Aphelocoma ultramarina): local differentiation, polyphyly or hybridization?" title="post to CiteUlike">Post to CiteUlike
staff_mccormack(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-20)
My dissertation focuses on the Mexican jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina), a species with a wide distribution in the Mexican highlands that also reaches southern parts of Arizona and Texas.
This species is a good model for studies of differentiation because it comprises seven distinct subspecies, which differ in morphology, behavior, and ecology.
Rice, N.H., Martinez-Meyer, E. and Peterson, A.T. Ecological niche differentiation in the Aphelocomajays: a phylogenetic perspective.
My research integrates techniques from a number of disciplines to address these fundamental questions in organismal biology.
An introduced generalist parasite, the sticktight flea (Echidnophaga gallinacea), and its pathology in the threatened Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens).
Diet quality during prelaying and nestling periods influences growth and survival of Florida scrub-jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens, chicks.
biology.memphis.edu /Schoech.htm (791 words)
Amazon.com: Aphelocoma: Books(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-20)
The Pacific Coast jays of the genus Aphelocoma (University of California publications in zoology) by Harry Schelwald Swarth (Unknown Binding - 1918)
Mexican jay: Aphelocoma ultramarina (The birds of North America) by Jerram L Brown (Unknown Binding - 1994)
Western scrub-jay: Aphelocoma californica (The Birds of North America) by Robert L Curry (Unknown Binding - 2002)
Pictures of Aphelocoma Coerulescens, Scrub jay with blue and white feathers perched on a green bush - Search Photographs Photos Images and Photo Clip Art - SHB1008, SHB1008.jpg
Aphelocoma Coerulescens, Scrub jay with blue and white feathers perched on a green bush
Reproductive Success, Territory Size, and Predation Pressures of the Florida Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) at Savannas Preserve State Park
The Florida Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) is the only avian species that is restricted entirely to Florida (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1996a, 1996b).
They live only in xeric oak scrub communities (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984, 1996a), and individuals rarely disperse more than a few kilometers, with most recruits to the breeding ranks settling within two territories from their natal site (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984).
Western Scrub-Jay(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-20)
The Western Scrub-Jay, the Island Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma insularis—found only on the island of Santa Cruz off the coast of Southern California), and the endemic Florida Scrub-Jay (A. coerulescens) formerly were given the status of races, but they are now seen as separate species.
The Mexican or Gray-breasted Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina) is a similar species that occurs in southern Arizona and the Big Bend area of Texas.
It is more uniformly bluish gray above and grayish white below, lacking the contrasting mantle and throat and breast band of the Western Scrub-Jay.
Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) Red crown, red throat; only hummingbird found in California in mid-winter; nest is a tiny lichen-covered cup in brush or tree.
Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) No crest on head; head, wings, and tail are blue; back is pale brownish; in flight often pitches down slopes in long shallow curves; nest is a twiggy bowl in bush or low tree.
Common Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) Very small plain birds that move from bush to tree in straggling flocks; constantly conversing; gray back, pale underparts; stubby bill and longish tail; nest is a long woven pouch in bush and tree.
If your topic is sociobiology of the Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina), the following keywords would be useful for finding information in the online catalog and article databases.
If you are researching a particular organism, be sure to find and use both the common and scientific names for it (i.e use both Mexican Jay and
If you choose to use both an And and an Or in your search statement you'll need to enclose the terms you want to connect with "or" in parentheses.
Fitzpatrick, J.W., M.T. Kopeny and G.E. Woolfenden. 1991. Ecology and development-related habitat requirements of the Florida scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens). Nongame Wildlife Program, Technical Report No.8. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, FL.
eds.). Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. Woolfenden, G.E. and J.W. Fitzpatrick. 1996a. Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). In: The Birds of North America, No. 228 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologist’s Union, Washington, D.C. For more information please contact:
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