Arizona Dreamin’

By laurie54

Mexican Jay

I could use some help in identifying or confirming the species of  yesterday's grosbeak.  


Mexican Jays aren't exactly like the jays most folks are used to seeing.  Widespread in Mexico, this bird enters the United States in two areas: in much of southeastern Arizona and adjacent New Mexico, and in the Big Bend area of Texas. These two populations are not closely connected in Mexico, and they differ in a number of ways, including egg color, bill color of the young, voice, and aspects of nesting behavior. The nesting habits in Arizona are surprisingly complicated, various members of the flock being more or less involved with several nesting attempts at once. They are one of the most closely studied bird in North America as a result.  About 15% of the Jays are found in the U.S. with 85% in Mexico. They are climate threatened.

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