Photo of the Day #943: Steller's jay

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A Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), photographed at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.


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A golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis), photographed in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.

This species, when I've seen it in person, looks liken a hybrid of common crow and blue jay (both corvids). I've seen pictures online that purport to be steller's/blue jay hybrids, which is what gave me the idea. Plus the vocalization I've heard from them is pretty similar to crow caws.

I know the species is its own population now, but could it have started with hybridization?

By CS Shelton (not verified) on 19 Jun 2010 #permalink