ID Keys: Grayish-blue overall, heavy black bill, short tail.
Well named, the Pinyon Jay
relies heavily on the seeds of the pinyon pine as a food source. When
pine-seed sources are low, large flocks may be seen in other nearby habitats
as they search for alternate food sources.
Habitat
Generally found in and around pinyon pine and pinyon/junipor forests.
Diet
Feeds heavily on pinyon pine seeds, also other pine seeds. Will also eat other seeds and nuts, waste grain, fruits and berries, many insects in the summer, eggs and young birds, and garbage.
Behavior
Sociable at all times, including during the breeding season. Also feeds in groups, using a variety of foraging techniques, including walking on the ground, climbing and flitting through trees and vegetation, or by capturing insects in flight.
Nesting
May and June
Song
Wide variety of caws and calls.
Migration
Not migratory, but will move from location to location depending upon food supplies.
Interactive eBird Map
Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Pinyon Jay sightings
Similar Species
Steller's Jay , Western Scrub Jay (not found in South Dakota)
Conservation Status
Overall populations are generally stable, but can swing wildly in the short term with availability of pine seeds.
