Mexican Jay

Scientific name: Aphelocoma ultramarina

With most of its range in its namesake country, the Mexican Jay reaches parts of the southwestern U.S. at the northern edge of its distribution. Highly social, Mexican Jays live in groups of up to two dozen birds. Several females in this group may pair up and nest simultaneously.

Acorns are an important food for Mexican Jays, and it has been noted that the jays are also important to oak trees by dispersing acorns uphill. Due to their social structure, Mexican Jays don’t typically breed until they reach an age of somewhere between three and 14. They have lived up to 20 years in the wild.

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