Florida Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma coerulescens
- Family
- Crows, Jays, and Magpies (Corvidae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
The Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens[A]) 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 and one of only 15 species endemic to the continental United States. Because of this, it is keenly sought by birders. It is known to have been present in Florida as a distinct species for at least 2 million years, and is possibly derived from the ancestors of Woodhouse's scrub jay.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Acorns, insects and small animals.
How to identify it
- Blue head, wings and tail with a grey back
- Whitish throat with a faint blue necklace
- Lives in family groups in oak scrub and is often tame
Voice
Harsh rasping calls.
Where to see it
- Merritt Island and Archbold Biological Station, Florida
Destination guides featuring this bird
Range and habitat
Locally in central peninsular and Atlantic coastal Florida.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Florida scrub jay
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
