Backyard Birds: Steller's Jay

Steller's Jay
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Photo and text by Wayne Pridemore

For the past several years Steller's Jay's have visited our yard in Shoreline to check out any possible food treats. 

They are very fond of peanuts in the shell (unsalted) which they pick up and carry away. They will return in a minute to carry off another until the nuts are gone.

The Steller's Jay is the largest in North America and will display the long dusky head crest when agitated or alarmed. They nest in conifer trees and eat nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, and other birds' eggs.