California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica), Sacramento County California USA
Like all corvids, the California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) is an omnivore who will eat grubs, nuts, and any opportunistic meat it can find. The blue coloration is not due to any pigments, rather it is due to air pockets in the barbs of the feathers that scatter light. This species at one time was considered conspecific with several other Scrub-Jays (Florida, Island and Woodhouse's) but is now recognized as a distinct species. The California Scrub-Jay's name implies a limited range on the west coast of North America but its range extends as far north as the US/Canada border and south into Baja California Mexico. This bird has caught a Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) which it will kill and eat.
Size: 7200px × 4800px
Location: Sacramento County California USA
Photo credit: © Douglas Herr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: alligator, america, animals, aphcal, aphelocoma, birds, california, casj, corvidae, elgaria, jay, jays, lizard, multicarinata, passeriformes, sacramento, scrub, scrub-jay, songbirds, states, united, usa, western, wildlife
