Florida Scrub Jay
Encyclopedia
The Florida Scrub-Jay
is one of the species
of scrub-jay
native to North America
. It is the only species of bird endemic
to the U.S. state of Florida
. Because of this, it is heavily sought by birders
who travel from across the country to observe this unique species. It is known to have been present in Florida as a recognizably distinct species since at least 2 mya (Emslie, 1996 ); possibly it is derived from the ancestors of Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, the inland forms of the Western Scrub-jay (Rice et al. 2003 ).
It is 28 cm (11 in) long, and weighs 75–85 g (2.6–3 oz). It has a strong black bill, blue head and nape without a crest, a whitish forehead and supercilium
, blue bib, blue wings, grayish underparts, gray back, long blue tail, black legs and feet.
Unfortunately, this tameness is dangerous to the well-being of the species. Florida Scrub-Jays that are fed by humans will reproduce earlier in the year than those that are not. However, fledgling Scrub-Jays feed primarily on caterpillar
s present in the late spring and summer; if they hatch too early in the year when the caterpillars are not available, this can lead to their malnutrition or starvation.
Another potential danger of feeding Florida Scrub-Jays occurs when people feed them near a road, as one major cause of death for Scrub-Jays in urban areas is collision with vehicles.
habitat, an ecosystem that exists only in central Florida and is characterized by nutrient-poor soil, occasional drought
and frequent wildfire
s. Because of its somewhat harsh weather pattern, this habitat is host to a small assortment of very specific plants, including Sand Pine
, Sand Live Oak
, Myrtle Oak, Chapman's Oak, Sandhill Oak, Florida Rosemary
and various other hardy plants such as Eastern prickly pear
.
Florida Scrub-Jays are omnivorous, and eat a wide variety of acorn
s, seed
s, peanut
s, insect
s, tree frog
s, turtle
s, snake
s, lizard
s, and young mice
. Florida Scrub-Jays have also been occasionally observed robbing other birds of their eggs or nestlings, but this occurs rarely. They routinely cache thousands of acorns a year, burying them just beneath the surface of the sand. The acorns are typically buried in the fall and consumed during the winter and spring. Those acorns not found germinate
, making the Florida Scrub-Jay a premier disperser for a variety of oak trees.
Scrub-Jays will also steal silverware and other shiny objects in a manner similar to the American Crow
.
birds in North America. Fledgling Florida Scrub-Jays remain in their parents' habitat for several years and help to rear young
, watch for predators, and defend territory against neighboring Florida Scrub-Jay family groups. These families can range in size from 2 to 8.
After about 2 to 3 years, fledglings leave the group to form mating pairs of their own. Mating season ranges from March to June. Clutches usually contain about 3 to 4 eggs
which are incubated in about 18 days. Fledging
occurs in about 16 to 19 days. Fledglings can be distinguished from the adult birds due to the coloration of the feathers on their head, which are brown instead of blue, The brown feathers on the juvenile's head are slowly replaced by blue feathers as the bird matures into adulthood.
s and trees which changes the habitat. In recent years, environmental groups within the state have made a strong effort at preserving Florida's remaining scrub through controlled burns and even clearing out areas of large trees to increase the size of a scrub habitat. Oscar Scherer State Park
near Sarasota
has one of the larger habitats under state management.
The Florida Scrub-Jay was officially listed as a threatened state species by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
in 1975 and it was listed as a threatened federal species by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
in 1987.
In 1993, there were estimated to be 4000 breeding pairs left in the wild. Despite the protections, the Scrub-Jay is still thought to be on the decline. Studies done in Brevard County
, once the most numerous Florida county for Scrub-Jays, noted declines of about 33% since the 1993 census alone.
Another attempt to conserve the bird is an ongoing campaign to name the Florida Scrub-Jay the new state bird of Florida. The main argument for changing the state bird is that the current state bird (viz. the Northern mockingbird
) is the state bird of several other states, while the Scrub-Jay is exclusive to Florida.
In recent years there has been some debate about whether or not the Florida Scrub-Jay should be officially listed as an Endangered Species
because of the loss of homes. However, environmentalists hope that current conservation efforts should help the species population to at least stabilize.
On the other hand, the IUCN classifies this species as vulnerable
to extinction VU B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C1+2a(i) (BirdLife International 2004). This signifies that in 2004, the population was declining and no more than 10 subpopulations were known. Both the number of adult birds as well as amount and quality of habitat
were in decline, and local subpopulations were in danger of disappearing altogether. About 8000 mature birds were believed to exist – with no more than 1000 in any one subpopulation – and population numbers had dropped by about 10% over the last decade or so.
A long-term and ongoing study of the Florida Scrub-Jay has been taking place at the Archbold Biological Station
at Lake Placid
.
The Florida Scrub-Jay was featured in episode 11, season 3 of the Showtime television series Penn & Teller: Bullshit!.
is one of the species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of scrub-jay
Aphelocoma
The passerine birds of the genus Aphelocomainclude the scrub-jays and relatives. They are New World jays found in Mexico, western Central America and the western United States, with an outlying population in Florida...
native to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is the only species of bird endemic
Endemism in birds
An endemic bird area is a region of the world that contains two or more restricted-range species, while a "secondary area" contains one or more restricted-range species. Both terms were devised by Birdlife International....
to the U.S. state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Because of this, it is heavily sought by birders
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
who travel from across the country to observe this unique species. It is known to have been present in Florida as a recognizably distinct species since at least 2 mya (Emslie, 1996 ); possibly it is derived from the ancestors of Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, the inland forms of the Western Scrub-jay (Rice et al. 2003 ).
It is 28 cm (11 in) long, and weighs 75–85 g (2.6–3 oz). It has a strong black bill, blue head and nape without a crest, a whitish forehead and supercilium
Supercilium
The supercilium is a plumage feature found on the heads of some bird species. It is a stripe which runs from the base of the bird's beak above its eye, finishing somewhere towards the rear of the bird's head. Also known as an "eyebrow", it is distinct from the eyestripe, which is a line which runs...
, blue bib, blue wings, grayish underparts, gray back, long blue tail, black legs and feet.
Dangers of human feeding
An inquisitive and intelligent species, the most striking attribute of the Florida Scrub-Jay's behavior is its remarkable tameness. As such, Scrub-Jays willingly take food from human hands.Unfortunately, this tameness is dangerous to the well-being of the species. Florida Scrub-Jays that are fed by humans will reproduce earlier in the year than those that are not. However, fledgling Scrub-Jays feed primarily on caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s present in the late spring and summer; if they hatch too early in the year when the caterpillars are not available, this can lead to their malnutrition or starvation.
Another potential danger of feeding Florida Scrub-Jays occurs when people feed them near a road, as one major cause of death for Scrub-Jays in urban areas is collision with vehicles.
Ecology
The Florida Scrub-Jay is found only in Florida scrubFlorida scrub
Florida scrub is an endangered temperate coniferous forest ecoregion of the state of Florida in the United States. It is found on coastal and inland sand ridges and is characterized by a xeromorphic plant community dominated by shrubs and dwarf oaks. Scrub soils, a type of entisol, are derived...
habitat, an ecosystem that exists only in central Florida and is characterized by nutrient-poor soil, occasional drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
and frequent wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
s. Because of its somewhat harsh weather pattern, this habitat is host to a small assortment of very specific plants, including Sand Pine
Sand Pine
Pinus clausa is a small, often shrubby tree from , exceptionally to tall, found in two separate locations, one across central peninsular Florida, and the other in the western Florida panhandle and the Alabama coast; there is a range gap of about between the populations...
, Sand Live Oak
Quercus geminata
Quercus geminata, commonly called Sand Live Oak, is an evergreen oak tree that is native to parts of the coastal southeastern United States, along the Atlantic Coast from Miami-Dade County, Florida northward to southeastern Virginia and along the Gulf Coast from Florida northward and westward to...
, Myrtle Oak, Chapman's Oak, Sandhill Oak, Florida Rosemary
Ceratiola ericoides
The Sandhill-rosemary, Florida-rosemary or Sand heath, Ceratiola ericoides, is a shrub usually included in the plant family Ericaceae, though treated by some botanists in the Empetraceae....
and various other hardy plants such as Eastern prickly pear
Eastern prickly pear
Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the Eastern Prickly Pear or Indian Fig, is a native cactus found in most of eastern North America. It ranges from Montana eastward to southern Ontario and then on to Massachusetts, south to Florida and westward to New Mexico.The green stems of this low-growing...
.
Florida Scrub-Jays are omnivorous, and eat a wide variety of acorn
Acorn
The acorn, or oak nut, is the nut of the oaks and their close relatives . It usually contains a single seed , enclosed in a tough, leathery shell, and borne in a cup-shaped cupule. Acorns vary from 1–6 cm long and 0.8–4 cm broad...
s, seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s, peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s, insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, tree frog
Tree frog
Hylidae is a wide-ranging family of frogs commonly referred to as "tree frogs and their allies". However, the hylids include a diversity of frog species, many of which do not live in trees, but are terrestrial or semi-aquatic.-Characteristics:...
s, turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s, snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s, lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s, and young mice
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
. Florida Scrub-Jays have also been occasionally observed robbing other birds of their eggs or nestlings, but this occurs rarely. They routinely cache thousands of acorns a year, burying them just beneath the surface of the sand. The acorns are typically buried in the fall and consumed during the winter and spring. Those acorns not found germinate
Germination
Germination is the process in which a plant or fungus emerges from a seed or spore, respectively, and begins growth. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm. However the growth of a sporeling from a spore, for example the...
, making the Florida Scrub-Jay a premier disperser for a variety of oak trees.
Scrub-Jays will also steal silverware and other shiny objects in a manner similar to the American Crow
American Crow
The American Crow is a large passerine bird species of the family Corvidae. It is a common bird found throughout much of North America...
.
Reproduction
Florida Scrub-Jays are one of the few cooperative breedingCooperative breeding
Cooperative breeding is a social system in which individuals contribute care to offspring that are not their own at the expense of their own reproduction . When reproduction is monopolized by one or few of the adult group members and most adults do not reproduce, but help rear the breeder’s...
birds in North America. Fledgling Florida Scrub-Jays remain in their parents' habitat for several years and help to rear young
Helpers at the nest
Helpers at the nest is a term used in behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology to describe a social structure in which juveniles and sexually mature adolescents of either one or both sexes, remain in association with their parents and help them raise subsequent broods or litters, instead of...
, watch for predators, and defend territory against neighboring Florida Scrub-Jay family groups. These families can range in size from 2 to 8.
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
which are incubated in about 18 days. Fledging
Fledge
Fledge is the stage in a young bird's life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. It also describes the act of a chick's parents raising it to a fully grown state...
occurs in about 16 to 19 days. Fledglings can be distinguished from the adult birds due to the coloration of the feathers on their head, which are brown instead of blue, The brown feathers on the juvenile's head are slowly replaced by blue feathers as the bird matures into adulthood.
Conservation
Scrub habitat has dwindled considerably in the past several decades as Florida has continued to develop. Wildfire suppression also leads to the natural succession of large oakOak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
s and trees which changes the habitat. In recent years, environmental groups within the state have made a strong effort at preserving Florida's remaining scrub through controlled burns and even clearing out areas of large trees to increase the size of a scrub habitat. Oscar Scherer State Park
Oscar Scherer State Park
Oscar Scherer State Park is a Florida State Park located between Sarasota and Venice, near Osprey, amidst the heavily-developed southwest Florida coast. The address is 1843 South Tamiami Trail. There are more than 130,000 visitors a year.-History:...
near Sarasota
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
has one of the larger habitats under state management.
The Florida Scrub-Jay was officially listed as a threatened state species by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is a Florida government agency charged with managing the state's fish and wildlife resources, regulating Florida's fisheries and wildlife, and enforcing related laws...
in 1975 and it was listed as a threatened federal species by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
in 1987.
In 1993, there were estimated to be 4000 breeding pairs left in the wild. Despite the protections, the Scrub-Jay is still thought to be on the decline. Studies done in Brevard County
Brevard County, Florida
Brevard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the population is 536,521, making it the 10th most populous county in the state. Influenced by the presence of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Brevard...
, once the most numerous Florida county for Scrub-Jays, noted declines of about 33% since the 1993 census alone.
Another attempt to conserve the bird is an ongoing campaign to name the Florida Scrub-Jay the new state bird of Florida. The main argument for changing the state bird is that the current state bird (viz. the Northern mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird
The Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos, is the only mockingbird commonly found in North America. This species was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 as Turdus polyglottos....
) is the state bird of several other states, while the Scrub-Jay is exclusive to Florida.
In recent years there has been some debate about whether or not the Florida Scrub-Jay should be officially listed as an Endangered Species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
because of the loss of homes. However, environmentalists hope that current conservation efforts should help the species population to at least stabilize.
On the other hand, the IUCN classifies this species as vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
to extinction VU B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C1+2a(i) (BirdLife International 2004). This signifies that in 2004, the population was declining and no more than 10 subpopulations were known. Both the number of adult birds as well as amount and quality of habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
were in decline, and local subpopulations were in danger of disappearing altogether. About 8000 mature birds were believed to exist – with no more than 1000 in any one subpopulation – and population numbers had dropped by about 10% over the last decade or so.
A long-term and ongoing study of the Florida Scrub-Jay has been taking place at the Archbold Biological Station
Archbold Biological Station
The Archbold Biological Station is a research institute with a surrounding estate near Lake Placid, Florida, USA. It includes an extensive area of Florida scrub, a scientifically interesting and highly threatened ecosystem...
at Lake Placid
Lake Placid, Florida
Lake Placid is a town in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the town's population as 1,878 on 1 July 2007...
.
The Florida Scrub-Jay was featured in episode 11, season 3 of the Showtime television series Penn & Teller: Bullshit!.
Footnotes
- EtymologyEtymologyEtymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
: Aphelocoma, from LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
ized Ancient GreekAncient GreekAncient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
apheles- (from ἀφελής-) "simple" + Latin coma (from Greek kome κόμη) "hair", in reference to the lack of striped or banded feathers in this genus, compared to other jays. coerulescens, LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "becoming blue", in reference to the species' color which is lighter than in most American jays.
Further reading
- Alsop, Fred (2002): Smithsonian Handbooks: Birds of Florida. DK Pub., New York. ISBN 0-7894-8387-4
- Brevard County Natural Resources Management Office (2005): An Ecological Overview of Scrub Habitat and Florida Scrub-Jays in Brevard County. Retrieved Apr. 12, 2005.
- Florida Natural Areas Inventory (2001): Florida Scrub-jay. In: Field Guide to the Rare Plants and Animals of Florida. PDF fulltext
- Goodwin, Derek & Gillmor, Robert (1986): Crows of the World (2nd ed). British Museum of Natural History. ISBN 0-565-00979-6
- Madge, SteveSteve MadgeSteve Madge is a birder, author, and bird tour leader, based in Cornwall, England.He is a former member of the British Birds Rarities Committee...
& Burn, Hilary (1994): Crows and jays: a guide to the crows, jays and magpies of the world. A&C Black, London. ISBN 0-7136-3999-7 - Morse, R. (2000): Richard Archbold and the Archbold Biological Station. University Press of Florida: Gainesville. ISBN 0-8130-1761-0
- Woolfenden, Glen E. & Fitzpatrick, John W. (1996): Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). In: Poole, A. & Gill, F. (eds.): The Birds of North America 228. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA & The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. Online version, retrieved 2006-OCT-11.
External links
- Florida Scrub Jay on All About Birds by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Florida scrub-jay Aphelocoma coerulescens. USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter.
- Florida Scrub Jay WatchList Species Account from the American Bird Conservancy
- Florida Scrub-Jay Campaign mentions the movement to adopt the Scrub-Jay as Florida's State Bird
- "Florida Scrub-Jay" photo gallery - VIREO
- Florida Scrub-Jay Bird Sound
- Florida Scrub-Jay call from Cornell Lab of Ornithology (RealMediaRealMediaRealMedia is a proprietary multimedia container format created by RealNetworks. Its extension is ".rm". It is typically used in conjunction with RealVideo and RealAudio and is used for streaming content over the Internet....
format).