Flocking and annual cycle of the piñon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus

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Although detailed studies have been conducted on many North American jays (Pitelka 1945, 1951; Hardy 1961; Brown 1963, 1964, 1970) little information beyond Bent’s (1946) brief description is available on the Piñon Jay [Pinyon Jay]. For a number of reasons this species is one of the more unusual members of the family Corvidae found in North America. It is a very early nester, initiating egg laying as early as February in Piñon-Juniper Woodland (Jensen 1923) and also in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) (this study) at elevations of 7000 ft. This jay is also known to form exceptionally large flocks, at times containing thousands of birds (Bent 1946). During years of poor seed crops in conifers, especially piñon pine (Pinus edulis), flocks may become nomadic and move hundreds of miles outside of their normal range (see Westcott 1964). Although flocking in many species is a response to harsh or unfavorable environmental conditions ( Emlen 1952), the Piñon Jay maintains a tightly knit and probably highly integrated flock year round. This report describes the activities of a flock of jays and its members throughout the different periods of the year. Because the yearly cycle contains periods during which very different requisites are needed, we will try to show how these demands are met within the context of a flock. Since the study flock spent a large share of its time in a somewhat unusual habitat, Ponderosa Pine Forest, some of the observations and conclusions may differ from those resulting from studies in the more typical Piñon-Juniper Woodland.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology

SWAP (2/19/2016) citation:
Balda RP, Bateman GC. 1971. Flocking and annual cycle of the piñon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus. [accessed 2015 Nov 18]; Condor. 73(3):287–302. https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/condor/v073n03/p0287-p...