Gray Jay

The Gray Jay (Scientific name: Perisoreus canadensis) is also commonly known as the Canada Jay or Whiskey Jack. They are found in the boreal forests of North America and in sub alpine forests in the Rocky Mountains as far south as New Mexico and Arizona.  They nest in late winter sometimes in temperatures well below freezing. They are always looking for food and can often be found near campsites and picnic sites scavenging. They will if offered often take food from human's hands.  They are stocky birds with black bills. They are light gray below and darker gray on the back. They have a black patch on the back of their heads. These photos taken at Manning Park, British Columbia in October 2014.

Steller's Jay

The Steller's Jay (Scientific name - Cyanocitta stelleri) is the Provincial Bird of British Columbia. They can be noisy and very pesky and often are found scavenging around parks and campsites. They are found mainly along the West Coast of North America and into the Rocky Mountains and sometimes as far as the Great Plains.  

The head is black/dark grey and the remainder of the body is blue.

The top photo was taken near Shannon Falls, Squamish, B.C. in August 2013, the bottom photos were taken in my backyard in Abbotsford, B.C. in October 2013.