JAYS AND MAGPIES: Family Corvidae [415] 



reported the species from Astoria, Clatsop County, in July 1897; Peck, 

 from Roseburg, Douglas County, and vicinity in June and July 1916; and 

 Overton Dowell, Jr., breeding birds at Mercer, Lane County, in 1917, 

 1910, and 192.1. Patterson (ms.) took eggs between May 15 and 16 in 

 Klamath County, the spot in Oregon where the birds are most abundant. 



Jays and Magpies: family Corvidae 



Rocky Mountain Jay: 



Perisoreus canadensis capitalis Ridgway 



DESCRIPTION. "Adults: Top of bead white shading to dark gray on back of neck; rest 

 of upper parts light slate gray; tail tipped with white; throat whitish; rest of under 

 parts brownish gray. Young: top of head dull white, tinged with grayish brown. 

 Length: 11.15-13.00, wing 5.90-6.30, tail 5.80-6.35, bill .97-1.08." (Bailey) Nest: 

 Built of twigs inclosing an inner nest of stems, plant fibers, and down, and placed 

 on horizontal branch. Eggs: 3, grayish white, blotched with purplish brown. 

 DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from southern British Columbia, southern Alberta, 

 and Black Hills south to Arizona and New Mexico. In Oregon: Common permanent 

 resident of higher parts of Blue Mountain area. (See Figure n.) 



BENDIRE (1877, 1895 a) found the Rocky Mountain Jay, commonly known 

 as "Camp Robber" or "Whiskey Jack," on Canyon Mountain to the 

 north of Camp Harney. The first two he saw, on October 31, 1875, were 

 on the headwaters of Bear Creek near Silvies Valley. We have taken 

 numerous specimens throughout the timbered sections of the Blue Moun- 

 tains and find the species to be fairly common. It is somewhat erratic 

 in appearance; sometimes a dozen will be seen in one day and then several 

 days' travel will pass before another is sighted. So far as we can find, 



FIGURE n. Distribution of three forms of jays in Oregon: i, Rocky Mountain Jay (Peri- 

 soreus canadensis capitalist; x, Oregon Jay (P. obscurus obscurus); 3, Gray Jay (P. o. griseus). 



