MAGPIE 379 



It might be remarked in passing that Williams Butte, near Mono Lake, 

 is an exceptionally good locality at which to study birds of the family 

 Corvidae. In September, 1915, the Black-billed Magpie and Clark Nut- 

 cracker, and the Blue-fronted, Woodhouse and Piiion jays were all seen 

 at that station. At no other locality in this country with which we are 

 familiar can so many members of this family be seen at the same time 

 within a few rods of one another. 



Blue-fronted Jay. Cyanocitta stelleri frontalis (Kidgway) 



Field characters. — Somewhat larger than Robin. Head with a conspicuous crest ; 

 tail as long as body, broad, and slightly rounded at end ; wings short and rounded. Head 

 (including crest) and forepart of body, blackish; wings, tail, and hinder part of body, 

 chiefly deep blue. Young more blackish, less blue, especially on lower surface, and 

 plumage more fluffy. Voice: Extremely varied (see below); usual calls harsh and loud, 

 I'sch, kschak, or gloolc, in series of three. 



Occurrence. — Common resident of Transition and Canadian zones on west slope of 

 Sierra Nevada and of Canadian Zone on east slope. Recorded from Smith Creek (east 

 of Coulterville) and Feliciana Mountain, east to Lake Tenaya and Lake Merced; also 

 from canon of Leevining Creek opposite Warren Fork east to Williams Butte. A 

 partial vertical migration to lower altitudes (as to El Portal and even Pleasant Valley) 

 occurs in at least some winters. Remains in Yosemite Valley throughout the year. 

 Frequents wooded territories; seldom descends to ground. Non-flocking, but individuals 

 quickly assemble about any object or sound which incites their curiosity. 



The Blue-fronted Jay is the Sierra Nevadan representative of the 

 Stelier or crested jays, a wide-ranging group found throughout most of 

 the mountainous regions of western north and middle America. Blue 

 jays, of any species, by reason of their large size, loud voices, and bold 

 manners, bring themselves quickly to the attention of all who visit their 

 haunts, and this is eminently true of the subject of the present account. 

 Locally the Blue-fronted Jay is known as the ' ' mountain blue jay ' ' because 

 of its restriction to the higher altitudes, and to distinguish it from the 

 California, Woodhouse, and Piiion jays found in the lower country on 

 either side of the mountains. The name 'blue-fronted,' designating this 

 particular jay, refers to the streaks of light blue which face the crest in 

 front, that is, just above the base of the bill. This color mark is not 

 conspicuous enough, however, to serve as a mark for field identification. 



The Blue-fronted Jay inhabits both the Transition and Canadian zones. 

 On the west slope its range meets that of the crestless or flat-headed 

 California Jay where the main forest belt of the mountains proper gives 

 way to the foothill oaks and chaparral. In a few places along this line or 

 belt of contact these two jays are found together; but each keeps as a 

 rule to its special niche, the Blue-fronted to the pines, the California to 

 the live oaks and blue oaks. Upward, the range of the Blue-fronted ends 



