California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) is in the Crows, Jays, and Magpies family (Corvidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 74,546 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph California Scrub-Jay: observations by month (U.S.)
About California Scrub-Jay
The California scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica), is a species of scrub jay native to western North America. It ranges from southern British Columbia throughout California west of the Sierra Nevada. The California scrub jay was once lumped with the island scrub jay, and Woodhouse's scrub jay, collectively called the western scrub jay. The group was also lumped with the Florida scrub jay; the taxon was then called, simply, the scrub jay. The California scrub jay is...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
California Scrub-Jay by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 64,069 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Oregon | 7,491 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Washington | 2,346 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Nevada | 624 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Idaho | 12 | January | Dec–Jan |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Steller's Jay
Black-billed Magpie
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
Canada Jay
Fish Crow
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph California Scrub-Jay?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is California Scrub-Jay most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.