The Mexican jay formerly known as the gray-breasted jay, is a New World jay native to the Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre Occidental, and Central Plateau of Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. In May 2011, the American Ornithologists' Union voted to split the Mexican jay into two species, one retaining the common name Mexican jay and one called the Transvolcanic jay. The Mexican jay is a medium-sized jay with blue upper parts and pale gray underparts. It resembles the Woodhouse's scrub-jay, but has an unstreaked throat and breast. It feeds largely on acorns and pine nuts, but includes many other plant and animal foods in its diet. It has a cooperative breeding system where the parents are assisted by other birds to raise their young. This is a common species with a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Region
Southwestern United States and northern–central Mexico
Typical Environment
Occurs in the ‘sky island’ mountains of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and western Texas, extending south through the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental into the Mexican Central Plateau. Most populations inhabit oak, pine–oak, and pinyon–juniper woodlands, especially along canyons and montane slopes. They also use forest edges, scrubby oak thickets, and mixed conifer zones with a strong oak component. Local movements may occur in response to acorn and pinyon seed crops, but populations are generally sedentary.
Altitude Range
900–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Mexican jays are cooperative breeders: nonbreeding helpers, often offspring from previous years, assist a dominant pair in raising young. They cache acorns and pine nuts in scattered sites and remember many of these stores for months. In 2011, the complex was split, with southern highland populations recognized as the Transvolcanic jay. They are intelligent corvids with flexible foraging and social behaviors.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with direct, buoyant flights between trees
Social Behavior
Lives in stable family groups that defend year-round territories. Breeding pairs are aided by helpers that feed nestlings and fledglings and help defend the nest. Nests are cup-shaped and placed in oaks or other mid-canopy trees, with pairs typically monogamous within a season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocal repertoire includes sharp, scolding ‘shack’ and ‘chek’ calls, mellow whistles, and soft contact notes used within groups. Alarm calls are harsher and louder, while softer chatter is common during foraging and group cohesion.
