Hybrid Blue Jay X Steller's Jay in Boswell

[Dick Cannings]

Hi folks:

 

I received this interesting set of photos today from Neil and Karen Arrowsmith in Boswell (on Kootenay Lake north of Creston).  These two species rarely hybridize, despite their broad overlap in parts of the Rockies.  I remember an instance a few years back on Vancouver Island though.  At least I assume this is a hybrid Blue X Steller's Jay, rather than a Blue Jay with extra black.  The photos were taken on December 6.

 

I guess Boswell is at the edge of the Blue Jay's present range, as they are pretty common in Creston now from what I understand.  This is supposedly where hybridization occurs, i.e where one of the species (in this case the Blue Jay) has a hard time finding an appropriate mate, so picks the next best thing.

 

cheers

Dick Cannings

Penticton, BC

 

 

 

[Len Jellicoe]

That's very interesting.

See you in the field

Len Jellicoe

Abbotsford, BC

Canada

http://lenjellicoe.zenfolio.com/

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[Rick Howie]

That’s one nifty looking jay.  We should name it the Boswell Jay but it is likely to never appear again as a consistent hybrid such as the Brewster’s Warbler.

 

Rick Howie