Steller's Jay (Long-crested Jay, Pine Jay)

A striking medium-sized corvid with a prominent dark crest, deep blue body plumage, and black head and shoulders. Known for their bold and intelligent behavior, harsh vocalizations, and adaptability.

Striking deep blue and slate grey coloration, featuring structural blue hues on the distal web and darker grey-black towards the base, characteristic of Steller's Jay plumage.

Pennaceous at the upper distal portion with tightly interlocked barbs and barbicels, transitioning to a plumulaceous (fluffy, loose) structure near the base.

Slender, white-to-greyish central rachis that tapers smoothly toward the tip, with fine, densely packed barbs extending at a moderate angle.

Smooth and silky pennaceous upper portion with a softer, downy base; matte finish with structural iridescence on the blue barbs.

Body or upper wing covert, likely from the breast, mantle, or scapular region, determined by the soft basal plumulaceous down and firm pennaceous tip.

Vibrant structural blue transitioning to deep slate grey at the fluffy base, diagnostic of western North American corvids like Steller's Jay.

Coniferous and mixed mountain forests, especially in mountainous western North America, ranging from lowlands up to timberline.

Western North America, from southern Alaska down through British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest (including the Olympic Mountains), and down to Central America.

Acts as an important seed disperser, particularly for conifer seeds and acorns, playing a crucial role in forest regeneration.

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), which features lighter blue tones, white spotting, and lacks the dark crest and geographic overlap in the Pacific Northwest.

Steller's Jay is the provincial bird of British Columbia and is known to readily mimic the calls of various raptors, particularly the Red-tailed Hawk.

Held in high regard by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, frequently appearing in folklore and traditional stories as a clever or trickster figure.

Look for feathers combining deep structural blue and soft grey underparts in coniferous mountain forests of the West.

Good condition, mostly intact barbs with slight fraying at the fluffy base, showing minimal wear or sun bleaching.

Olympic mountains