[416] BIRDS OF OREGON 



no actual nests have been taken in Oregon, but there is no question as 

 to its breeding in the State, as we frequently meet small flocks containing 

 newly fledged young in June and July. 



These jays often follow a person through the woods, swooping from 

 their perches in a downward swing that ends in a sharp upturn to suitable 

 perches in the next tree, where they will then sit motionless or hop 

 upward through the tree in deliberate movements, eventually to sail out 

 of the tree in another similar movement. When disturbed, they fly 

 rapidly away through the woods, often uttering their half-whistled call 

 as they go. 



Oregon Jay: 



Perisoreus obscurus obscurus Ridgway 



DESCRIPTION. "Adult: Like P. c. capitalis, but white only on forehead; top of head and 

 back of neck blackish, and rest of upper parts brownish gray; feathers of back with white 

 shaft streaks; tail only slightly if at all tipped with white; under parts white. 

 Young: dull sooty brown, darkest on head, browner below. Length: 9.50-11.00, 

 wing 5-i5~5-75, tail 5.10-5.90, bill .84-. 99." (Bailey) Nest: Of twigs and moss, 

 grass lined, usually placed high in a bushy conifer. Eggs: 4 or 5, gray or greenish, 

 spotted with lavender and gray. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Pacific slope from western Washington to northern Cali- 

 fornia. In Oregon: Permanent resident of Coast Ranges throughout length of State, 

 except in Curry County. (See Figure n.) 



THE FIRST OREGON record of the Oregon Jay, the habits and behavior of 

 which are quite similar to those of other members of the genus, was made 

 near the mouth of the Columbia, January 2., 1806, by members of the 

 Lewis and Clark Expedition (Lewis and Clark 1814), and since that time 

 the species has been recorded many times. Despite the common local 

 belief that "camp robber eggs have never been taken," two nests have 

 been recorded from Oregon: Anthony (1886) took eggs at Beaverton, 

 March 31, 1884, and Swallow (1891) obtained a set in Clatsop County, 

 May 8, 1891, concerning which he wrote: 



I found a nest May 8, with four eggs. It was ten feet from the ground in a small hemlock 

 in thick woods, and was made of dead twigs, lined with moss and feathers. 



We have a number of skins taken from the Columbia River to Coos 

 County and consider this race to be confined strictly to the Coast Ranges 

 in this State. It seems to be most abundant in the northern part of the 

 State in the timbered country lying between Portland and Tillamook. 



Gray Jay: 



Perisoreus obscurus griseus Ridgway 



DESCRIPTION. "Similar to the Oregon Jay, but decidedly larger except for feet, and 

 much grayer; back dark gray instead of brown, and under parts grayish white 

 instead of brownish white." (Bailey) Si%e: Length (skins) 9.10-10.60, wing 5.30- 



