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Crows, Ravens, Magpies & Jays 28 images Created 16 Jul 2013

Corvids (crows, ravens, magpies & jays) are known to be not only the smartest of birds, but are also known to be among the most intelligent of animals, even expressing self-awareness. These large songbirds (family Corvidae) tend to be very social and while being omnivorous, they tend to favor a particular type of seed(s) unique to their species.
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  • The green jay is one of the most spectacularly colored birds outside of the parrot family. A relative of crows, magpies and blue jays, the green jay is a very intelligent species of corvid and is known to use stick tools to pry insects out from loose tree bark. They are found throughout parts of Central and South America and their northern range just reaches just to the southern tip of Texas, where this one was found in the Rio Grande Valley.
    Green Jay
  • The Mexican jay is a gorgeous member of the crow and jay family that is found throughout Mexico and barely touches into parts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Very similar to the Florida scrub jays in appearance from my birthplace in SW Florida, these noisy birds are intelligent, curious, and much like their relative - the magpie, are thieves for anything bright, shiny or tasty. This one was photographed in the Chiricahua Mountains on the Arizona-Mexico border.
    Mexican Jay
  • Slightly smaller than other raven species found around the world and about the size of the American crow, this Mexican raven may look like any other raven, but the differences stop there. Most notably, the under-feathers on its neck are pure white. In the dry grasslands of the American Southwest it replaces the common raven (Corvus corax) of the north and breeds in the Southwestern United States, but it is far more common to the south in Mexico where it is found year-round. At northern end of range (eastern Colorado, western Kansas), the Chihuahuan raven is far less common today than in 1800s. I saw this one quite by accident as I was setting up my tent and cooking some dinner on my travels on a small ground fire on top of a hill overlooking Sonoyta, Mexico in Southern Arizona on the US-Mexico border. It got my attention by crowing on top of an almost-flowering saguaro cactus while I was waiting for the water to boil on my camp stove.
    Chihuahuan Raven on a Saguaro
  • Recently, the western scrub jay was split into two distinct species: the California scrub jay (which is a brighter blue and is found in the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest) and the Woodhouse's scrub jay (which is a duller blue and found in more interior regions away from the coast.) Much like any jay or other corvid, these often loud and very inquisitive birds will eat just about anything they can overpower or steal. These California scrub jays are easy to recognize from their neighboring cousins by the distinct blue "collar" around the neck. This one was found screeching in a maple tree in Southern King County, Washington on a chilly afternoon.
    California Scrub Jay
  • The notorious mountain camp thief, the gray jay is a very clever and charismatic member of the corvid family that includes blue jays, crows, ravens, and magpies. This one seen in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming shows the distinctive regional Rocky Mountain color variation with a nearly white head.
    Gray Jay
  • A blue jay pauses briefly in the Florida Everglades just west of Homestead.
    Blue Jay
  • Close-up of one of the world's most intelligent birds photographed here in the Mojave Desert in Southern California.
    Common Raven
  • Scrub jay in Highlands County near Lake June-in-Winter. This threatened endemic bird is found only in Florida, and is becoming harder to find each year.
    Florida Scrub Jay
  • Close-up portrait of a Steller's jay on Mount Rainier on a chilly spring afternoon in Washington.
    Steller's Jay
  • A gray jay pauses on a rock about halfway up Mount Rainier in the Pacific Northwest.
    Gray Jay
  • Slightly smaller with a more slender body than the common American crow, the northwestern crow (Corvus caurinus) seen here was photographed on the shore of Washington's Puget Sound - the southernmost point of its range. This crow is only found near the coast from the Puget Sound, the entire coast of British Columbia, and the southernmost shores of Alaska.
    Northwestern Crow
  • The Mexican jay is a gorgeous member of the crow and jay family that is found throughout Mexico and barely touches into parts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Very similar to the Florida scrub jays in appearance from my birthplace in SW Florida, these noisy birds are intelligent, curious, and much like their relative - the magpie, are thieves for anything bright, shiny or tasty.
    Mexican Jay
  • Slightly smaller than other raven species found around the world and about the size of the American crow, this Mexican raven may look like any other raven, but the differences stop there. Most notably, the under-feathers on its neck are pure white. In the dry grasslands of the American Southwest it replaces the common raven (Corvus corax) of the north and breeds in the Southwestern United States, but it is far more common to the south in Mexico where it is found year-round. At northern end of range (eastern Colorado, western Kansas), the Chihuahuan raven is far less common today than in 1800s. I saw this one quite by accident as I was setting up my tent and cooking some dinner on my travels on a small ground fire on top of a hill overlooking Sonoyta, Mexico in Southern Arizona on the US-Mexico border. It got my attention by crowing on top of an almost-flowering saguaro cactus while I was waiting for the water to boil on my camp stove.
    Chihuahuan Raven in the Sonoran Desert
  • Scrub jay in Highlands County, Florida near Lake June-in-Winter. This one has been tagged and released in order for biologists to monitor wild populations.
    Florida Scrub Jay
  • An incredibly blue (and brazen) Steller's Jay photographed about one-third the way way up Mount Rainier in Washington State.
    Steller's Jay
  • Scrub jay in Highlands County near Lake June-in-Winter. This threatened bird lives primarily in Central Florida, but can also be found in more coastal areas in Sarasota County.
    Florida Scrub Jay
  • A wary gray jay keeps an eye on me as I pass along the top of Hurricane Ridge on Washington's Olympic Peninsula.
    Gray Jay
  • Slightly smaller than other raven species found around the world and about the size of the American crow, this Mexican raven may look like any other raven, but the differences stop there. Most notably, the under-feathers on its neck are pure white. In the dry grasslands of the American Southwest it replaces the common raven (Corvus corax) of the north and breeds in the Southwestern United States, but it is far more common to the south in Mexico where it is found year-round. At northern end of range (eastern Colorado, western Kansas), the Chihuahuan raven is far less common today than in 1800s. I saw this one quite by accident as I was setting up my tent and cooking some dinner on my travels on a small ground fire on top of a hill overlooking Sonoyta, Mexico in Southern Arizona on the US-Mexico border. It got my attention by crowing on top of an almost-flowering saguaro cactus while I was waiting for the water to boil on my camp stove.
    Chihuahuan Raven on a Saguaro Cactus
  • The provincial bird British Columbia, Canada - the very intelligent Stellar's jay is a close relation to crows, magpies and ravens.
    Steller's Jay
  • The common Raven is found all throughout Canada and across North and Central America's West Coast. This one was following me around the Mojave Desert as I was photographing lizards, wildflowers and cacti in Southern California.
    Common Raven
  • Slightly smaller than other raven species found around the world and about the size of the American crow, this Mexican raven may look like any other raven, but the differences stop there. Most notably, the under-feathers on its neck are pure white. In the dry grasslands of the American Southwest it replaces the common raven (Corvus corax) of the north and breeds in the Southwestern United States, but it is far more common to the south in Mexico where it is found year-round. At northern end of range (eastern Colorado, western Kansas), the Chihuahuan raven is far less common today than in 1800s. I saw this one quite by accident as I was setting up my tent and cooking some dinner on my travels on a small ground fire on top of a hill overlooking Sonoyta, Mexico in Southern Arizona on the US-Mexico border. It got my attention by crowing on top of an almost-flowering saguaro cactus while I was waiting for the water to boil on my camp stove.
    Chihuahuan Raven in the Wind
  • Steller's jays are aggressive feeders, and will feed on anything from plants (seeds, nuts, fruit), animals (invertebrates, baby birds, and some reptiles) During the non-breeding season, when not scavenging human habitation, they will scavenge seeds, cones and acorns.
    Steller's Jay
  • Scrub jay in Highlands County near Lake June-in-Winter. This one landed next to the car as we were getting closer to the lake.
    Florida Scrub Jay
  • Like other jays, crows and ravens, the Stellars' jay is extremely intelligent. It has a number of calls which it used to communicate with other jays, and to trick other birds. It can imitate the cry of the red-tailedhawk, the red-shouldered hawk and other predators to dissuade them of staying in the area.
    Steller's Jay
  • Slightly smaller than other raven species found around the world and about the size of the American crow, this Mexican raven may look like any other raven, but the differences stop there. Most notably, the under-feathers on its neck are pure white. In the dry grasslands of the American Southwest it replaces the common raven (Corvus corax) of the north and breeds in the Southwestern United States, but it is far more common to the south in Mexico where it is found year-round. At northern end of range (eastern Colorado, western Kansas), the Chihuahuan raven is far less common today than in 1800s. I saw this one quite by accident as I was setting up my tent and cooking some dinner on my travels on a small ground fire on top of a hill overlooking Sonoyta, Mexico in Southern Arizona on the US-Mexico border. It got my attention by crowing on top of an almost-flowering saguaro cactus while I was waiting for the water to boil on my camp stove.
    Chihuahuan Raven Showing White Feathers
  • A trio of scrub jays on a barbed wire fence. Losing habitat due to development, they are estimated to have declined by as much as 90% during the 20th century.
    Florida Scrub Jays
  • Recently, the western scrub jay was split into two distinct species: the California scrub jay (which is a brighter blue and is found in the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest) and the Woodhouse's scrub jay (which is a duller blue and found in more interior regions away from the coast.) Much like any jay or other corvid, these often loud and very inquisitive birds will eat just about anything they can overpower or steal. These California scrub jays are easy to recognize from their neighboring cousins by the distinct blue "collar" around the neck. This one was found screeching in a maple tree in Southern King County, Washington on a chilly afternoon.
    California Scrub Jay
  • The green jay is one of the most spectacularly colored birds outside of the parrot family. A relative of crows, magpies and blue jays, the green jay is a very intelligent species of corvid and is known to use stick tools to pry insects out from loose tree bark. They are found throughout parts of Central and South America and their northern range just reaches just to the southern tip of Texas, where this one was found in the Rio Grande Valley.
    Green Jay (Cyanocorax luxuosus)