[birding] RE: Steller's Jay imitates Blue Jay

[Joel Geier]

Hi all,

Just to toss out another possibility -- suppose that one of our Pacific
NW Steller's Jays vagrated to, say, Idaho, where it could encounter Blue
Jays, and then found its way back.

I'll admit, that seems less likely than the idea that Michael Dossett
hinted at in his initial posting (where he mentioned that the light was
too dim to get a good look at the Steller's Jay's plumage to see if it
might be one of the inland subspecies). That still seems like a good
possibility to try to check out. If anyone wants to try, here's a page
that gives some tips on what to look for:

http://www.idahobirds.net/identification/stja2004.html

However, Don Boucher also makes a good point regarding the variation of
Steller's Jay calls. Just to add one more:

This morning two STELLER'S JAYS were perched atop some tall Douglas-firs
on Tampico Ridge behind our place, and were making rattling calls that
reminded me of a Clark's Nutcracker. This was right next to several
Red-breasted Nuthatches that were going crazy, as if they'd found a
Northern Pygmy-Owl. I looked hard but couldn't spot an owl.

Happy birding,
Joel 

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis