Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13101875@N00/381094583/

Range Map - Birds of the Boreal Forest

Description: The Gray Jay, also known as the "Camp Robber," is a familiar bird of camp sites in the north woods. Measuring about 10 inches in length, the Gray Jay has a white forehead, nape, and breast and a conspicuous dark gray patch on the back of the head. Its underparts are light gray and its wings, back, rump, and long tail are dark gray. Immatures are a uniform dark gray. Males and females are similar.

Diet: The omnivorous Gray Jay eats insects, eggs, nuts, seeds, carrion, and food scraps found at camp sites. It is known to store food items for future use. Some Gray Jays will take scraps from the human hand.

Range: The Gray Jay is a year-round resident throughout Alaska, most of Canada, and the mountain regions of the west (north of Arizona). Populations also occur in the northern Great Lakes states, northern New England, and the Adirondack Mountains of New York.

Habitat: The Gray Jay is found in sub-alpine coniferous forests.

Status: The Gray Jay is common.