Aphelocoma californica

The Western scrub-jay belongs to the Corvid family, which includes magpies, crows and ravens. They are very intelligent. People who live in the bench areas where there are conifers, particularly pinyon pines and scrub oak, will be familiar with the scrub-jay, as it is more commonly known.

Luring the scrub-jay close with peanuts in the shell is a sure-fire winner. The birds will pick up and weigh each peanut and take off with the heaviest, stowing it away in their rainy-day fund.

The scrub-jay is bold and has adapted to suburbia and backyard feeders. Their populations appear to be increasing, according to data from Audubon Christmas Bird Counts and Cornell Lab of Ornithology Backyard Feeder Watch programs.

Jays in areas where acorns are abundant have deep, stout, slightly hooked bills. Those in areas with lots of pinyon pine have long, shallow, pointed bills. The shape of the bill helps the jays open their preferred foods.

The Western scrub-jay, one of three species of scrub-jay, can be further divided into three forms: The California scrub-jay of the Pacific coast has contrasting dark blue and white plumage, with a prominent blue necklace on a streaked white throat; our Great Basin scrub-jay is duller and less well-marked, with little or no necklace; the Sumichrast's scrub-jay of central Mexico has more white underparts and little or no necklace.

The Western scrub-jay has been studied for its ability to hide (cache) and remember seeds. The part of the brain that remembers hiding places enlarges during food cache time.

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* BILL FENIMORE is owner of the Layton Wild Bird Center.