California scrub jay cracks acorn

Описание: California scrub jay cracks acorn in Pacific Grove, CA.

California scrub jays are known for their ability to crack acorns. They have a strong, hooked bill that they use to hammer open the hard shells of acorns. They will often hold the acorn down on a branch with their feet while they hammer at it with their bill. Once the shell is cracked, they will use their bill to pry it open and extract the nutmeat.

California scrub jays are also known for their caching behavior. They will cache acorns in the ground, in trees, and in other hiding places. They can remember the location of thousands of cached acorns, even months later. This caching behavior is important for the jays because it allows them to have a food source during the winter months when food is scarce.

The California scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica) is a medium-sized songbird native to western North America. It is a common resident of oak woodlands, chaparral, and suburban areas along the Pacific Coast, from southern British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico.

These intelligent and bold jays are popular visitors to backyard feeders. They are known for their loud calls, which can sound like a harsh "screech" or a rattling sound. They are also known for their habit of caching acorns, burying them in the ground to retrieve them later.

California scrub jays are social birds that live in family groups. They are cooperative breeders, meaning that helpers, usually young birds from previous broods, will help the breeding pair raise their young.

Here are some other interesting facts about California scrub jays:

They are excellent mimics and can imitate the calls of other birds, as well as other sounds such as car alarms and barking dogs.
They have a very good memory and can remember the location of thousands of hidden acorns.
They play an important role in the oak ecosystem by helping to disperse oak seeds.