Steller's × Blue Jay

Description

This bird is identified as a hybrid resulting from the interbreeding of a Steller's Jay and a Blue Jay. It exhibits a blend of characteristics from both parent species, including a dark head and a slight crest (reminiscent of a Steller's Jay) along with a lighter blue body plumage and a prominent white supercilium (eyebrow stripe), which is a common feature in these hybrids. The overall appearance suggests a mix of the robust, dark-headed Steller's Jay and the more uniformly blue-bodied Blue Jay. Hybrids are known to occur in areas of range overlap, particularly in the central Great Plains of North America.