Crows & Ravens

Steller's Jay

Diademhäher

Cyanocitta stelleri

Crows & Ravens4 photosFirst seen: 22 July 2026

Steller's Jay is a large western jay with a prominent crest, dark head and deep blue body. It lives mainly in conifer and mixed forests but is also common around parks, campsites and gardens. The diet includes seeds, nuts, fruit, insects, eggs and human food. It stores food for later use and readily investigates new objects and feeding opportunities. The species can imitate other birds, including the call of the Red-tailed Hawk.

ID tip: The only dark, crested jay in the West has a sooty black head and crest shading into deep blue on the body, wings and tail. It is unmistakable within its range and a noted mimic of hawk calls.

First seen: 22 July 2026 · Bothell · 4 photos in the collection.

Places in my records

Locations where this species is supported by a dated first record, an unambiguous single-place outing or a reviewed assignment.

Bothell22 July 2026 Girdwood24 August 2026

Family: Crows & Ravens (Corvidae)
Length: 30–34 cm
Wingspan: 45–48 cm
Regional status: Year-round resident (Pacific Northwest, USA)
Conservation: Least Concern LCIUCN Red List · retrieved 27 August 2026
Habitat: Coniferous and mixed forest, wooded suburbs, campgrounds
Diet: Omnivore: acorns, pine seeds, insects, eggs, nestlings and scraps

Built from verified occurrence records, not drawn by hand. Core range = the countries holding 99% of all records; the rest are scattered or vagrant records. Record counts track where people watch birds as much as where the birds are, so the map shows presence, not abundance. Data: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). Basemap: Natural Earth.

Steller's Jay

Places in my records

Selected photographs