Nomadic and social the pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) doesn't stray far from family and friends in the Great Basin region of the Southwest. These birds are easily identifiable as they stand out amongst the earthy tones of a woodland. The medium sized birds exhibit a pale or dull blue coloring with a lighter blue belly and whitish throat. The pinyon jay has a short tail and does not display a crest. Their bill is dagger shaped much like that of a raven. The size and shape of their bill assists them in retrieving pine nuts from the cones of pinyon trees. Flying in flocks, the vocal pinyon jays can usually be found in groups foraging for food in trees or on the ground.
Nesting in colonies, a pinyon jay may not make the best neighbor. While materials used for building nests may come from tree bark, pine needles, grasses, and soft feathers, occasionally a pinyon jay will steel some of their building supplies from their neighbor. Nests are typically built 4 to 20 feet off the ground in juniper, oak, and pinyon trees. Breeding occurs in late winter. Two to five colorful eggs of light blue to gray with brown spots are laid in the nest. Approximately 16-17 days later the eggs hatch, Both parents raise the fledglings for approximately 3 weeks before they are ready to leave the nest.
Last updated: January 9, 2020
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Contact Info
Mailing Address:
Public Lands Visitor Center
345 East Riverside Drive
Saint George,
UT
84790
Phone:
(435) 688-3200
This federal interagency office is staffed by employees from the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S National Forest Service, and by dedicated volunteers from the local community. Phones are answered Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The visitor center is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and all federal holidays.
