The birds of “Discovery”—Steller’s Jay

This is the third in a series of posts focused on the birds featured in my new novel, Discovery. Look for another one each week.

Especially in the central and southern Rocky Mountains, Steller’s Jays are the clowns of the bird world. More than any other variety of this species (of which there are several, ranging from Mexico to Alaska), these noisy fools even look the part. They seem to be wearing streaks of white grease paint on their faces in an effort to appear as ridiculous as possible. They’re also loud and prone to blatant thievery, practically stealing food off picnickers’ plates.

Of course, Steller’s Jays are also beautiful. Their black head, topped with a large crest, and dark blue body make them almost regal, until their squawking and pushy behavior ruin the illusion. Their thieving extends beyond picnic raids to nest robbing where they indulge their appetite for eggs and young birds. The occasional adult small bird also finds its way onto the menu.

That big crest, by the way, is unusual among jays. In North America, only the Steller’s Jay and the Blue Jay have one. Steller’s Jays hold the bragging rights for the bigger crest.

For years, when I kept a list of the birds I saw on trips to my family’s cabin in Colorado, I’d misspell “Steller’s” as “Stellar’s.” Come to find out, it’s a common mistake, so I don’t feel so bad. In fact, according to the folks at allaboutbirds.org, a great site offered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, “Steller’s Jays have the dubious honor of being one of the most frequently misspelled names in all of bird watching.” Nice to know I’m just another ignoramus.

Turns out, Georg Steller (no, I didn’t misspell Georg; he was Russian) discovered these jays in 1741 on an island off Alaska. He’s also the namesake of the Steller’s Sea Lion and the Steller’s Sea-Eagle, among other species.

One more thing about Steller’s Jays from allaboutbirds.com: they like to mimic sounds from other birds, including chickens, as well as cats, dogs and squirrels. They’ll even copycat machines. Personally, I’d like to hear a chainsaw. Given Steller’s Jays’ typical vocalizations, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch.