California Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica)

Not to be mistaken for the showy blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) of eastern North America, the California scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica) is a nonmigratory species that occupies a swath of the West Coast. Taxonomically, the California form was recently split from the Inter-Mountain west and mainland Mexico form that is now known as Woodhouse’s scrub jay. Ranging from Washington to Baja California, California scrub jays inhabit a variety of habitat types, including mixed evergreen forests, riparian and oak woodlands, chaparral, sage scrub, and suburban gardens. 

Their diet is as varied as their habitats. Scrub jays forage on just about anything they can get their beaks on, ranging from small animals to nuts, grains, and berries. One particular nut that the species has a close bond with in our neck of the woodlands is the acorn. Many oak trees growing in the Ojai Valley, and across the state as a whole, owe their existence to these unlicensed gardeners.

The root of this behavior stems from the need to exploit ephemeral surpluses of food while also being wary of theft. This is done via scatter hoarding. Competition for acorns can be intense. As a result, scrub jays make several food caches. While some of these caches are real, others act as decoys to dupe their neighbors. An inevitable consequence of this is that many caches are forgotten, giving the acorns time to germinate. Even a casual Ojai Valley gardener has found oak seedlings in their pots or beds. Over time, one can imagine that entire groves of oak trees might not stand where they do today if not for a few scrub jays simply looking for a place to stash their earnings. Indeed, in this time of climate change, we have a busy ally in helping to establish new stands of oak.

The next time you come across an oak tree, consider the scrub jay and give a brief thanks to these feathered stewards of the land. As with many other Corvids (the family of birds to which scrub jays, crows, and ravens belong), scrub jays are remarkably intelligent, with some research suggesting their cognitive abilities rival that of chimpanzees and Cetaceans. Many Corvids cache food suggesting an innate ability to plan for the future. Perhaps we can learn a thing or two about planning ahead to create a sustainable future for generations to come—definitely some food for thought.

To learn more about wildlife species that call the Ojai Valley home, visit our website at ovlc.org/wildlife.

Anthony Gomez, Restoration Field Crew