California Scrub Jay (formerly Western Scrub Jay )

They like to nest in our neighbor's Oak trees . . . and, to hoard the sunflower seeds I put out for ALL the seed eating birds. So, I'm thinking about getting a cage-covered feeder to protect most of the Sunflower seeds from birds larger than finches & Sparrows. . . . I used to grow Black Oil Bush Sunflowers & let the birds pick their seeds . . . but an insect that kills them before they can ripen any seed has made me start purchasing it. (I didn't know that you're supposed to go 4-5 years without growing Sunflowers, to keep those insects from becoming a problem.)

A crafty noisy addition to our backyard birds. On most occaisons announcing their presence with a few cackles unless their is a crow or two around. Then the jays wait their turn after the crows have had their chance at our feeders. All in all a very inquisitive and interesting bird to view and observe.

Nice plumage, but often a nuisance. They steal from squirrels, hide things in the garden and roof shingles, scatter seed from feeders, and yes, take baby birds from nests to kill them. Also locally called "picnic robbers" for obvious reason.