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Crows, Jays and Magpies

Common Raven - Columbia Ice Fields, AB It gets a tad cold when you are at 6700 Feet above sea level in November. I believe with the windchill we were at -20 Celsius and -4 Fahrenheit. That didn't seem to bother this iconic bird of the Rocky Mountains. There was a bit of motivation in hanging around the parking lot for the Columbia Ice Fields base camp. Food was scarce and several people were having a quick bite to eat so there was a little more than a passing interest by this beautiful black bird. Ravens are the largest songbird in North America. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Common Raven - Columbia Ice Fields, AB
Black-billed Magpie - Dufferin Park Wetland, BC A bird that is recognized in the Northern Hemisphere this long-tailed trickster has always been a favorite of mine. This particular flavor is North America's most common with the Black bill. There is also a yellow version in central California. Magpie's are found alongside humans in a great many areas and have made a successful living of it. This bird was hanging out in the Urban park setting at Dufferin Park Wetland. I love any bird that poses on a split rail fence for me. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Black-billed Magpie - Dufferin Park Wetland, BC
Blue Jay - Ladner Harbour Park, BC This is partner in crime of the other fancy Jay we had stick for the winter. This Blue Jay is a rare visitor to Vancouver and usually doesn't come west of the Rockies, save for a couple towns in the Columbia Valley. His ride or die was a California Scrub-jay who have made a bit of an in to the area from the south. There are still only a hand full of those. The two birds could be seen together headed for the oak trees or skulking in the park. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Blue Jay - Ladner Harbour Park, BC
California Scrub-jay - Ladner Harbour Park, BC We have had some fancy jays stay for the winter here in Metro Vancouver. On a little spit of land in Ladner, BC there have been a California Scrub-jay and a Blue Jay making Ladner Harbour Park their home. The funny thing is, they have been keeping each other company most days. One bird usually doesn't come east of the Rockies and the other doesn't come north of the Canadian border. Now that most of the oak trees are stripped of their acorns the birds have to search the hiding spots used to stuff the nuts away for a rainy day. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
California Scrub-jay - Ladner Harbour Park, BC
Black-billed Magpie - Elkwater, AB I wonder if he is thinking 'You can see me!
Black-billed Magpie - Elkwater, AB
Black-billed Magpie - North Vancouver, BC So Black-billed Magpies are not entirely rare, but they are here in Vancouver! Most of these birds are drier grassland or farmland citizens. Seeing this juvenile here in North Vancouver, one of the wettest areas in British Columbia, is a rare site. What is even more interesting is that he has blue eyes and the fleshy gape at the base of his bill. The other thing I found very interesting is that the crows did not like him, but the fact that our crows don't see these birds at but still find them a danger around nesting season is interesting. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Black-billed Magpie - North Vancouver, BC
Canada Jay - Cypress Mountain, BC Canada Jay, Whiskey Jack, Gray Jay or Camp Robber, this little bird has several names for good reason. They seem to find company in the humans that make their way into the woods. At least they find food when they find humans. This fellow was at the Bowen Lookout on Cypress Mountain entertaining the crowd that had made the trek. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Canada Jay - Cypress Mountain, BC
Stellar's Jay - Cypress Mountain Provincial Park, BC If you are into a bit of a hike, there is a look out on Cypress Mountain that gives a wonderful view of Bowen Island and a couple birds as well. This Stellar's Jay was checking on the hikers as well as the Canada Jays getting the same treatment. Both of these mountain birds have incredible memories but the Stellar's Jays not only remember where they placed food stores but also remembers where the Canada jays stored theirs as well. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Steller's Jay - Cypress Mountain Provincial Park, BC
Canada Jay - Mount Seymour, BC On a hike to the top of Mount Seymour I came across a band of Canada Jays. They were making sure that I knew they were there and very open to receiving any handouts that might be in my pack. Luckily for them, I had something that worked. Canada Jays are sometimes called Whiskey Jacks which in the Algonquin first nations language translates to trickster. This name suits them well as you might agree if you have camped in the vicinity of a family of these small Corvids. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Canada Jay - Mount Seymour, BC
Canada Jay 2 - Manning Park, BC On a second visit to Manning Park Ski hill this season I found a flock of these little camp robbers hanging around the picnic tables looking for handouts. They were landing on ski poles and skis to wait for the offerings to come up. They are truly fascinating to watch and people are mesmerized by how bold they are when coming to look for food. They are know the entire continent for showing up at campsites looking for tidbits of food. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Canada Jay 2 - Manning Park, BC
Stellar's Jay - Bowen Lookout, BC During a birding tour with a very interesting fellow birder we hiked Cypress Mountain to a specific lookout with a fantastic view of Bowen Island. During our quick stop, we had a visitor sit very nicely for us in the young hemlock. These very industrious birds are smarter than the average jay. They wait for their cousins the Canada Jay to pilfer food from unsuspecting hikers and then stash it in the nooks of the tree branches. The Stellar's jay waits patiently and watches while taking mental note where his food is not stored for a snack now or later. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Stellar's Jay - Bowen Lookout, BC
Canada Jay - Manning Park, BC This is the first Canada Jay I have photographed since the name has changed from Gray Jay. In some parts around here, they are still referred to as Whisky Jacks. The name comes from a derivative of an Algonquin Indigenous name meaning trickster. They will seek you out at any point in the forest so long as they think you have some type of food. They are hardy little birds living well into the Boreal forests and mountain tops in Northern USA and Most of Canada. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Canada Jay - Manning Park, BC
Blue Jay - Richmond, BC This rare visitor to the west side of the Rockies was fraternizing with our Stellar's Jays at a common food hang out in Richmond. Michael Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Blue Jay - Richmond, BC
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American Crow - Blackie Spit, BC
California Scrub-jay - Maple Ridge, BC Over the last 10 years we have seen the migration of a new species of Jay in Vancouver and the surrounding area. This is a dry weather bird that is found mostly along the coast from the Baja of Mexico north to Washington State has now moved into Canada. This one of a matched pair who appear to have babies in the area. At this particular time, the jay was scolding a cat that was slinking in the bushes below. There have been other Scrub-jays found in the lower mainland but none that I know of that are confirmed breeding birds. These are some of the most northerly of the species every to be found. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
California Scrub-jay - Maple Ridge, BC
Black- Billed Magpie - Edmonton, AB The tails on these birds are something to see, but when you get the light just right on them, they are truly amazing. This bird was having a look for something he might have found in a spruce in an industrial park in north Edmonton, Alberta. Black-billed Magpies are smart and spend a good deal of time around humans knowing we leave quite a bit behind. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Black- Billed Magpie - Edmonton, AB
Stellar's Jay - Roger's Pass, BC On the way through the Mountains in British Columbia, we stopped at the Rogers Pass rest area. After two or three minutes in the parking lot, we heard footfalls on the roof of the Car. Just after, a dark streak shot off to the spruce tree to our right. It turned out to be two Stellar's Jays apparently used to travelers in the rest area. This bird was kind enough to pose in front of the snow-capped mountains in the pass. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Stellar's Jay - Rogers Pass, BC
Common Raven - Manning Park Lodge, BC on a stump
Common Raven - Manning Park Lodge, BC
Mexican Jay - Santa Rita Lodge, AZ Mexican Jay's are communal like the Pinyon Jays of the mountains. They travel in large groups. This bird was part of one such group taking advantage of the generosity of the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon. This location is one of the premiere stops in North America with many birds that are found in the cloud mountains of southern Arizona and no where else in the United States. Michael W Klotz 2006 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Mexican Jay - Santa Rita Lodge, AZ
Black-billed Magpie Picture
Black-billed Magpie - Kelowna, BC
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