The Pinyon Jay 



Early on a July morning, having set ourselves the task of climbing 

 Mt. Langley, we noted on the aneroid the attainment of the thirteen 

 thousand foot level, and were gazing wistfully up at the rugged peak 

 looming a thousand feet higher, when, suddenly, like a wisp of snow- 

 flakes caught up by the wind, or like a sudden bursting rocket, a flock of 

 birds appeared right over the summit. Their breasts shone resplendent 

 in the morning sun, and under this bright disguise it took some moments 

 with the binoculars to make them out as Clark Crows. How jolly! 

 these gifted creatures have held a sunrise prayer (?) meeting "already 

 yet so soon, " while we poor mortals must plod on and on under a blister- 

 ing sun! 



"The heights by great men won and kept 



Were not attained by sudden flight: 



But they while their companions slept 



Were toiling upward in the night" 



evidently does not apply to the birds. 



No. 4 



Pinyon Jay 



A. 0. U. No. 492. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus (Wied). 



Synonyms. — Blue Crow. Maximilian's Jay. Pine Jay. 



Description. — Adults: Plumage dull grayish blue (tyrian blue where pure) 

 mingled with bluish gray and brownish gray, deepening on crown and nape (dusky 

 slate-blue), brightening on cheeks (olympic blue), paling below posteriorly to neutral 

 gray, streaked with dull white on chin, throat, and chest, centrally. Bill and feet 

 black; iris brown. Adult female : Like male, but somewhat duller, with increase of gray. 

 Young birds are still duller, gray rather than blue, except on wings and tail. Length 

 of adult male: 279.4-304.8 (11. 00-12. 00) ; wing 154 (6.00); tail 114 (4.50); bill 36 (1.42) ; 

 tarsus 38 (1.50). Adult female: wing 144.5 (5-68); tail 104 (39.5); bill 31.5 (1.24), 

 tarsus 35.5 (1.40). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; blue color; crow-like aspect. 



Nesting. — Nest: composed of twigs, heavily lined with finely shredded bark 

 strips; placed at moderate height in pinyon or juniper. Eggs: 4 or 5; pale greenish 

 white, speckled quite uniformly with olive-brown. Av. of 25 eggs in the U. S. National 

 Museum 30.2 x 22.1 (1.19 x .87); index 73. Av. of 20 eggs from Santa Fe in the 

 M. C. O: 27.3 x 21.9 (1.075 x .846); index 78. Season: April-May 10; one brood. 



General Range. — Pinyon and juniper woods of western United States; north 

 to southern British Columbia (interior), Idaho, etc.; south to northern Lower California, 

 Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas; casually along the eastern slopes of the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



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