California scrub jay

noun

variants or California jay

: scrub jay sense a

specifically : a scrub jay of a subspecies (Aphelocoma californica californica) native to coastal California and distinguished by a darker overall color and a blue head tinged with purple

The Western scrub jay can be further divided into three forms (not yet separate species): the California scrub jay of the Pacific coast has contrasting dark blue-and-white plumage, with a prominent blue necklace on a streaked white throat …

—Bill Fenimore, Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Nov. 2009

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

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