Stellar's Jay

Today, 5th January 2008, I went on an outing to the Sibbald, Exshaw, Canmore and Harvie Heights areas in the mountains. There wasn't much snow to be seen until we got further into the mountains. I was very happy that we were lucky enough to see a Stellar's Jay at Harvie Heights (near Canmore). Back in February, I had seen one in exactly the same place! Very difficult to get a photo of these birds, so I was pleased that even this very distant, cropped shot captured the bird suffiiciently to tell what it is. This bird is the provincial bird of B.C.. In Alberta, Stellars are spotted most often in the Rockies and this is a wintering one. They are locally uncommon year-round.

"These birds have glossy blue plumage; black head and nape; large, black crest; white streaks on the forehead and chin; wings and tail are accentuated by dark blue." From Birds of Alberta by Fisher and Acorn.