The quick answer is no, the Florida scrub jay and the blue jay are two different species of birds within the Corvidae family. While they may look similar at first glance, there are some key differences between these two jay species.
Appearance
The Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) is slightly smaller than the blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), measuring about 11-13 inches in length with a wingspan of 13-16 inches and weighing 2.5-3.5 oz. The blue jay is 11-12 inches in length with a wingspan of 13-17 inches and weighs 2.5-3.5 oz.
Both birds have blue feathers on their wings and tail, but the blue on the Florida scrub jay is more muted and grayish. The front of the Florida scrub jay is pale gray, while the blue jay has bright blue feathers on its head, back, and belly. The Florida scrub jay has a pale bill, eyes, and legs, while the blue jay has a black bill and legs and dark eyes.
One of the most distinguishing features of the Florida scrub jay is its blue and white striped throat. The blue jay has a black throat and upper chest band.
| Feature | Florida Scrub Jay | Blue Jay |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 11-13 inches long | 11-12 inches long |
| Wingspan | 13-16 inches | 13-17 inches |
| Weight | 2.5-3.5 oz | 2.5-3.5 oz |
| Plumage Colors | Pale gray, muted blue wings and tail | Bright blue head, back, wings, and tail |
| Throat Markings | Blue and white stripes | Black band |
| Bill Color | Pale gray | Black |
| Leg and Eye Color | Pale gray | Dark |
Range and Habitat
The ranges of the Florida scrub jay and blue jay do not overlap. The Florida scrub jay is found exclusively in Florida, with 90% of its population residing within central Florida’s oak scrub habitat. It is the only bird species endemic to Florida.
In contrast, the blue jay has a much wider range extending throughout eastern and central North America. Its habitat is also more varied, including both deciduous and coniferous forests as well as suburban areas.
The Florida scrub jay prefers open, scrubby flatwoods habitat characterized by scattered oak trees, minimal understory vegetation, and sandy soils that experience frequent fires. The blue jay inhabits forests with a mix of trees like oaks, maples, and pines. It thrives along forest edges and will visit backyards and parks.
| Feature | Florida Scrub Jay | Blue Jay |
|---|---|---|
| Range | Endemic to Florida | Eastern and central North America |
| Core Habitat | Oak scrub | Mixed deciduous and coniferous forests |
| Other Habitats | Pine flatwoods, sandhills | Forest edges, suburbs, parks |
| Territory Size | 10-25 acres | 5-200 acres |
Diet
Both the Florida scrub jay and blue jay are omnivorous, feeding on a combination of nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, frogs, eggs, and small vertebrates. However, their specific diets show some differences based on habitat and food availability.
The Florida scrub jay’s diet consists mainly of acorns when available, along with insects, berries, and occasional small prey. It uses its strong bill to crack open acorns. The blue jay has a more diverse diet including acorns, corn, berries, peanuts, eggs, nestlings, mice, and carrion. It sometimes raids other birds’ nests for eggs and young.
Both species store food in hiding places and will bury acorns to recover later. This food caching behavior helps support them during the winter when other foods are scarce.
| Diet | Florida Scrub Jay | Blue Jay |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Foods | Acorns, insects, berries | Acorns, corn, peanuts |
| Other Foods | Frogs, small vertebrates | Berries, eggs, nestlings, carrion |
| Foraging Behavior | Forages on ground, probes soil | All levels from trees to ground |
| Food Caching | Buries acorns to recover later | Stores food in hiding spots |
Behavior
The Florida scrub jay and blue jay have some behavioral similarities but also some distinct differences. Both species are intelligent, social, vocal birds that live in family groups with a mated pair and their offspring. However, the details of their social structures vary.
Florida scrub jays live in small family groups of up to 8 birds that cooperate to find food and defend territories. There is a clear dominance hierarchy with a breeding pair and helpers that are often offspring from previous years. Blue jays form looser flocks of 5-10 related birds but may congregate in larger noisy groups at feeding sites. Their flocks usually break up and re-form each year.
Both jay species are known for their intelligence and complex communication skills. Blue jays have a very wide repertoire of vocalizations including mimicking hawks and other species. Florida scrub jays make a variety of scolding and rally calls.
Florida scrub jays are non-migratory and stay year-round on their breeding and wintering grounds. Blue jays may migrate south but many remain resident in their breeding areas year-round as well.
| Behavior | Florida Scrub Jay | Blue Jay |
|---|---|---|
| Social Structure | Close family groups | Looser flocks |
| Territory Size | 10-25 acres | Varies widely |
| Cooperation | Highly cooperative family groups | Loosely cooperative flocks |
| Migration | Non-migratory | Partially migratory |
| Vocalizations | Scolding, rally calls | Wide repertoire, mimics |
Breeding
The Florida scrub jay and blue jay build very different nest structures. The breeding season also starts earlier for Florida scrub jays.
Florida scrub jays construct open, cup-shaped nests low in shrubs or trees using twigs lined with palmetto fibers. Blue jays build more sturdy nests higher up in trees from twigs, then lined with rootlets. Blue jay nests have a roofed, bowl shape.
In Florida, scrub jays breed starting in March to take advantage of peak food availability earlier in the year. The breeding season lasts through June. Blue jays breed later from mid-April through July across their range. Both species may have more than one brood per season.
Clutch sizes are also slightly different. Florida scrub jay clutches contain 2-4 eggs, while blue jay clutches have 3-6 eggs. The incubation period lasts 16-19 days for both species.
| Breeding | Florida Scrub Jay | Blue Jay |
|---|---|---|
| Nest Type | Open cup of twigs | Sturdy twig bowl with roof |
| Nest Location | Low in shrubs and trees | Higher up in trees |
| Breeding Season | March to June | Mid-April to July |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 eggs | 3-6 eggs |
| Incubation Period | 16-19 days | 16-19 days |
Conservation Status
The Florida scrub jay has a dire conservation outlook compared to the more common and widespread blue jay. Habitat loss has caused the Florida scrub jay population to decline by over 90% since the early 1900s. Due to these severe declines, it is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Major threats to the Florida scrub jay include habitat loss and fragmentation as Florida’s oak scrub is converted to agriculture, development, and forestry. Fire suppression also degrades its habitat. Its small, declining population size makes the species vulnerable to extinction.
In contrast, the blue jay remains common and classified as a species of Least Concern. Its large range and stable population offer the blue jay a secure future. However, it does face some local threats from habitat loss and is sometimes considered a pest by humans.
| Conservation Status | Florida Scrub Jay | Blue Jay |
|---|---|---|
| Population Trend | Declining steeply, 90% loss | Stable |
| Threats | Habitat loss, fire suppression | Some local habitat loss |
| IUCN Red List Status | Threatened | Least Concern |
| ESA Status | Threatened | Not listed |
Conclusion
In summary, the Florida scrub jay differs from the blue jay in its duller plumage, smaller size, striped throat, and Florida-only range. It specializes in oak scrub habitat while the blue jay occupies a broader range of forest types. Florida scrub jays form close family groups, while blue jay flocks are more fluid. The two species also differ in their nest structures and breeding timing.
While the common blue jay is in no conservation danger, habitat destruction has made the Florida scrub jay a threatened species struggling to survive. Protecting remaining oak scrub areas is crucial for saving the Florida scrub jay from extinction.
So while the Florida scrub jay and blue jay share some similarities, they are definitively separate and distinct species that are not directly interchangeable. The Florida scrub jay has a unique ecology important to its native state.
