Pinyon Jays: Specialist Birds of the Western U.S.

Pinyon jays (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) belong to the Corvidae family, a highly intelligent

group of birds that includes crows, jays, and magpies. These highly-sociable blue-gray birds look

more like crows than other members of their own jay brethren. As their name suggests, pinyon

jays feed heavily on the seeds of pinyon pine trees, and they form impressive flocks that are

fairly easy for bird lovers to spot. Learn more about the pinyon jay below.

Distribution/Range

Pinyon jays are non-migratory, but they are nomadic, moving as needed to find food. They are

found year-round in the Great Basin area, including the Grand Canyon, and can also be found in

northwestern Montana and North Dakota, as well as the northern state of Chihuahua in Mexico.

Pinyon Jays and Pines: A Mutualistic Relationship

Like many species, the pinyon jay has a mutualistic relationship with the pinyon pine. Put

simply, the jays need the trees, and the trees need the jays. The jays help the pinyon pines by

extracting seeds from the cone until their throats are full of seeds. The birds then fly to different

sites, sometimes many miles away, and cache the seeds under leaf litter. Collectively, the birds

cache millions of seeds, many of which sprout before the jays get to them; thus, new trees are

born. Pinyon jays have remarkable memories, and can find seeds they’ve cached months later,

even when covered under snow.

By spreading the seeds, the jays help ensure the continued existence of the pinyon pine, and, in

turn, the seeds provide nourishment for the jays.

Calls/Vocalizations

Pinyon jays fire off a rapid succession of nasally “crauk-crauk” or “ha-a-a-a” calls, which some

have described as resembling laughter.

Diet and Behavior

Pinyon jays are sociable birds that can live in large groups of up to 100, and they can form

massive flocks of thousands of birds that forage together beginning in August. They sometimes

partner up in flocks with other species, including the hairy woodpecker, northern flicker, and

European starling. The most likely reason for flocking with other species is protection from

predators.1

The pinyon jay eats the seeds of pinyon, ponderosa, and bristlecone pines, as well as berries,

small fruits, nuts, and, especially in summer, many different insects, from beetles, to

grasshoppers, to caterpillars.

Breeding/Nesting

Pinyon jays are monogamous, but they may seek out a new mate if their existing mate is lost.

The jays construct their nests out of twigs, bark, grasses, pine needles, and other materials, and

will typically lay a clutch of 3-5 pale blue, dark-speckled eggs in mid to late Spring. The birds

place the nests around 18 feet off the ground, and the female incubates the eggs for 16-17 days.

If climate conditions are favorable and food is abundant, the jays will nest at other times of the

year. The chicks fledge at around 3 weeks of age.

Conservation

Habitat loss is an increasingly serious problem for pinyon jays, and their populations have

declined significantly in recent years. Loss of habitat from increased development and livestock

grazing in coniferous woodlands of pinyon pine and juniper trees is largely driving the decline.

They are currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.2

Spotting Pinyon Jays

Pinyon jays can be found in pine forests, scrub oak, chaparral, and sagebrush. They form large

flocks and are very vocal, making them fairly easy to spot. They are frequently seen in the Grand

Canyon area. Whether you’re visiting on your own or as part of a Grand Canyon tour, look for

large flocks of these birds at the higher elevations and listen for their raucous chatter.