Color Key to North American Birds Part 55

=482a. Couch Jay= (_A. s. couchi_). Similar to No. 482, but smaller; W. 5.8; T. 5.3; bluer above, throat whiter.

Range.--"Eastern Mexico, extending to western Texas in the Chisos Mountains." (Bailey.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: 492.]

=492. Pinon Jay= (_Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus_). L. 11; T. 4.8.

_Ads._ Above nearly uniform grayish blue, head slightly darker; below slightly paler, throat streaked with white. _Notes._ Variable, some as harsh as those of No. 491, others like gabble of Magpie; others like Jays' common call a shrill, querulous, _peeh, peeh_; when on ground maintain a constant chatter. (Bendire.)

Range.--Western North America, from New Mexico and Lower California north to southern British Columbia; east to Rockies, west to Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 479.]

=479. Florida Jay= (_Aphelocoma cyanea_). L. 11.5. _Ads._ foreback clay-color or pale brownish gray; head, nape, wings, tail, sides of throat and faint breast-streaks blue; a grayish line over eye; throat gray; belly dingier; forehead usually h.o.a.ry. _Notes._ Harsh and unmusical calls.

Range.--Florida; confined mostly to coast of the middle portions of the peninsula.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 480.]

=480. Woodhouse Jay= (_Aphelocoma woodhousei_). L. 12; W. 5. _Ads._ Back _grayish or brownish blue_, usually not sharply defined from nape; crown, nape, wings and tail blue; throat _gray_; belly dingier; breast streaked with blue; _under tail-coverts blue_; a _narrow white_ line over eye. Resembles No. 479, but is larger, back bluer, forehead not h.o.a.ry; line over eye sharper.

Range.--Western United States (chiefly Great Basin region), from northern Mexico north to southeastern Oregon and southern Wyoming; east to western Texas and Colorado; west to California, east of the Sierras.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 480.1.]

=480.1. Blue-eared Jay= (_Aphelocoma cyanotis_). Resembling No. 480, but larger; W. 5. 5; under tail-coverts _white_; back slaty-gray tinged with blue; white line over eye less evident.

Range.--"Mexican tableland north casually to Sutton County, Texas."

(Bailey.)

_480.2. Texan Jay_ (_Aphelocoma texana_). Similar to No. 480.1, but white line over eye more distinct, below paler and browner gray, lower throat and chest with obsolete grayish streaks instead of blue streaks. Differs from No. 480 in having pure white under tail coverts and in other respects. (Ridgw.)

Range.--"Southeastern Texas, from Concho and Kerr Counties west to the Davis Mountains." (Bailey.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: 481.]

=481. California Jay= (_Aphelocoma californica_). Similar to No. 480, but back _brown_; usually sharply defined from nape; blue areas brighter, throat and belly whiter; breast less streaked with blue.

_Notes._ Varied, usual call a harsh, metallic squawking.

Range.--Pacific coast from northern Lower California, north to southern Was.h.i.+ngton, east, in California, to the Sierra Nevada.

=481a. Xantus Jay= (_A. c. hypoleuca_). Similar to No. 481, but blue areas somewhat lighter, underparts decidedly whiter.

Range.--Lower California, north to Lat. 28.

=481b. Belding Jay= (_A. c. obscura_). Similar to No. 481, but darker and with smaller feet; W. 4.7. (Anthony.)

Range.--San Pedro Martir Mountains, Lower California.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 481.1.]

=481.1. Santa Cruz Jay= (_Aphelocoma insularis_). Similar to No. 481, but larger; W. 5.6; blue areas much deeper, back much darker, grayish sooty tinged with blue.

Range.--Santa Cruz Island, California.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 478.]

=478. Steller Jay= (_Cyanocitta stelleri_). L. 13. _Ads._ Crest, back and upper breast sooty brown; rump and belly dark, (Antwerp) blue; forehead more or less streaked with blue. _Notes._ Varied, usual call a loud, harsh squawking; the bird is a mimic and also a whistler.

Range.--Pacific coast from Monterey, California, north to near Cook Inlet, Alaska, including Vancouver Island.

=478a. Blue-fronted Jay= (_C. s. frontalis_). Similar to No. 478, but back paler, grayer, rump and belly turquoise, forehead with more blue which sometimes extends to the crest.

Range.--"Southern coast ranges and Sierra Nevada of California and western Nevada, from Fort Crook south to northern Lower California."

(A.O.U.)

=478b. Long-crested Jay= (_C. s. diademata_). Similar to No. 478, but paler, grayer above, blue turquoise, as in No. 478a; crest longer, the forehead with pale, _bluish white_ streaks; a white spot over the eye.

Range.--"Southern Rocky Mountains; north to southern Wyoming; west to Uintah Mountains, in eastern Utah, and the higher ranges of northwestern Arizona; south to New Mexico." (Bendire.)

=478c. Black-headed Jay= (_C. s. annectens_). Between No. 478 and No. 478b. Forehead streaks, and spot over eye much as in latter; color of body dark as in former.

Range.--Northern Rocky Mountain region from northern Utah and southern Wyoming north to Alberta and British Columbia.

=478d. Queen Charlotte Jay= (_C. s. carlottae_). Similar to No. 478, but darker, sooty slate above, blue deeper.

Range.--Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 483.]

=483. Green Jay= (_Xanthoura luxuosa glaucescens_). L. 11. _Ads._ Crown and patches at side of throat blue; back, wings, and central tail-feathers green; outer tail-feathers yellow; throat black, breast and belly greenish yellow. _Notes._ Noisy and harsh often suggesting certain of the Blue Jay's calls.

Range.--Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and south into northeastern Mexico.

Perching Birds with Yellow or Orange

[Ill.u.s.tration: 503.]

=503. Audubon Oriole= (_Icterus audubonii_). L. 9.5. _Ads._ Head, breast, wings and tail black; belly yellow; back greenish yellow.

_Yng._ Greenish yellow below; olive-green above. _Notes._ See No. 507.

Range.--Mexico north to the Lower Rio Grande; casually as far as San Antonio, Texas; resident.