- Pinyon Jay
Taxobox
name = Pinyon Jay
status = VU
status_system = iucn3.1
image_width = 250px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia =Corvidae
genus = "Gymnorhinus"
species = "G. cyanocephalus"
binomial = "Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus"
binomial_authority = Wied,1841
range_
range_map_width = 250px
range_map_caption = Distribution (all-year resident)The Pinyon Jay ("Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus") is a
jay between theNorth America nBlue Jay and theEurasian Jay in size. It is the only member of the genus "Gymnorhinus", (monotypic ). Its overall proportions are very Nutcracker-like and indeed this can be seen asconvergent evolution as bothbird s fill similarecological niche s. The pinyon jay is a bluish-grey coloured bird with deeper head colouring and whitish throat with black bill, legs and feet.This species occurs in western
North America from centralOregon to northernBaja California and east as far as westernOklahoma though it wanders further afield out of the breeding season. It lives in foothills where thepinyon pine s "Pinus edulis " and "Pinus monophylla " occur.This species is highly social, often forming very large flocks of 250 or more birds, and several birds always seem to act as sentries for the flock, watching out for predators while their companions are feeding. The seed of the Pinyon pine is the staple food but they supplement their diet with fruits and berries. Insects of many types are also eaten and sometimes caught with its feet.
The nest is always part of a colony but there is never more than one nest in a tree. Sometimes the colony can cover quite extensive areas with a single nest in each tree (usually
juniper ,live oak orpine ). There are usually 3-4 eggs laid, quite early in the season. Incubation is usually 16 days. The male bird normally brings food near to the nest, and the female flies to him to receive it and take back to the nest to feed the chicks thatfledge around 3 weeks later. The pair normally only feed their own young, but once they reach near-fledging size they can sometimes receive a meal from any passing member of the colony, which can continue for some time after leaving the nest.The Pinyon Jay was first collected, recorded and described as a species from a specimen shot along the Maria River in Northern Montana during the Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied, Expedition to the Interior of North America in 1833.
The voice is described as a rhythmic "krawk-kraw-krawk" repeated two or three times.
External image link
* [http://a1410.g.akamai.net/f/1410/1633/7d/209.133.64.45/birds/birds_l/BD0028_1l.jpgPinyon Jay]
* [http://www.natureserve.org/infonatura/servlet/InfoNatura?sourceTemplate=Ltabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=Ldetail_report.wmt&selectedReport=&summaryView=Ltabular_report.wmt&elKey=101291&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=101291&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&selectedIndexes=101291 Article & RangeMaps] InfoNatura, NatureServe
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=pinyon+jay&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Pinyon Jay photo gallery] VIREOReferences
* Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is vulnerable, and the criteria used
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.