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Physical
Description
The Florida scrub jay is about 12 inches long
when full grown. Its color is a mix of blue, white
and gray. The male and female birds look alike. The
young scrub jay usually has more dusty brown on its
head and neck which is evident until the bird is
about 5 or 6 months old. See the photo
gallery for some photographs.
The Florida scrub jay has a sturdy black bill,
dark legs and a gray-white throat area. Its wings,
head and long tail are mainly blue. The only other
large, long-tailed bird in Florida which is similar
in appearance is the Blue Jay. See if you can find
pictures of the blue jay and see what is different
about the two birds.
One site where you can find photos of birds is
the Photo
Gallery of Southeastern U.S. Birds.The easiest
way to search for photos in this photo gallery is
to click on the alphabetical index which links to
bird images.
Habitat
Description
Florida scrub jays generally live close to the
cover of oaks in some of the driest areas of
Florida known as the scrub. The Florida scrub is
one of the most endangered ecosystems in all of
North America according to D. Bruce Means, Ph.D who
wrote about the scrub in the May-June 1994 Florida
Wildlife Magazine. The scrub is hot and dry and
very sandy. Find out more about the plants which
live in the scrub by visiting the Kennedy
Space Center pages which show pictures and tell
about plants and trees you would find in the scrub
ecosystem. Many other animals live in the scrub,
including the gopher
turtles. Animals that like a more moist and
cooler area survive in the scrub by living
underground or creating burrows.
Food
The Florida scrub jays' diet consists of many
things, including insects, spiders, tree frogs,
lizards, berries and seeds. They love acorns! It is
estimated that each jay will gather and bury
6-8,000 acorns each year. By storing (which is
called caching) the acorns they can eat them
throughout the year.
Family
Life
The Florida scrub jays live in family groups.
Scrubs mate for life and their offspring stay as
helpers for a year or more to raise the newly
hatched birds. Nests are usually made about four
feet off the ground and will have 3 or 4 light-blue
and brown eggs. Fledglings (what the young birds
are called) become helpers as soon as they are able
to eat independently. This is usually about 85 days
after hatching. The helpers do things such as
feeding nestlings and fledglings, defending the
territory, performing sentinel duties to warn
others of dangers and helping to attack predators.
The family group establish its territory which it
remains in year round. Because their habitat areas
are becoming scarce it is hard for young scrub to
establish new territories of their own.
Florida scrub jays are considered friendly and
curious. They seem to do well around people and
have been known to become so tame that they can be
hand fed.
Find out more about the Florida Scrub Jay by
clicking on the Scrub
Menu to see resources online.
February
1999 Carla
Schutte
Technology Specialist, Moton
Elementary
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