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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 19 years (wild)
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Joao Pedro de Magalhaes
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de Magalhaes, J. P.
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Behavior

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Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

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Hernandez, M. 2002. "Aphelocoma ultramarina" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphelocoma_ultramarina.html
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Marta Hernandez, University of Arizona
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Todd McWhorter, University of Arizona
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Conservation Status

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US Federal List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Hernandez, M. 2002. "Aphelocoma ultramarina" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphelocoma_ultramarina.html
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Marta Hernandez, University of Arizona
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Todd McWhorter, University of Arizona
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Trophic Strategy

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Mexican Jays mainly eat acorns (August through March), pinyon nuts (October through spring), and arthropods in the winter while in the summer they stick mostly with grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, other medium- and large-size insects, and lizards. Most of their foraging takes place on the ground for insects or stored food but they also search the foliage for caterpillars and acorns. They usually poke or dig through the ground litter with their bills. Foraging in groups allows for a higher success rate; sharing can occur. They do most of their insect hunting in the warmer months while in July they might visit the flowers of the Parry Agave (Agave parryi) for nectar and insects and then through December take acorns and pinyon nuts from trees.

(Burn & Madge, 1994; Brown, 1994)

Animal Foods: amphibians; reptiles; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; nectar

Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food

Primary Diet: omnivore

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Hernandez, M. 2002. "Aphelocoma ultramarina" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphelocoma_ultramarina.html
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Marta Hernandez, University of Arizona
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Todd McWhorter, University of Arizona
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Distribution

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Mexican Jays range from the north in central Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and west-central Texas through the eastern central mountain chain south to Puebla, Guerrero and central Veracruz and went to Jalisco and Colima.

(Burn & Madge, 1994; Brown, 1994)

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Hernandez, M. 2002. "Aphelocoma ultramarina" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphelocoma_ultramarina.html
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Marta Hernandez, University of Arizona
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Todd McWhorter, University of Arizona
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Habitat

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Mexican Jays are found in habitats usually containing pine (Pinus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), and juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodland, at least in Arizona. In lower elevations they can be found in oak-lined creeks and sometimes even into grassland areas. In upper elevations, they prefer south-facing slopes with more oak trees unlike Stellar’s Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) which prefer north-facing slopes with more coniferous trees. In Mexico, Mexican Jays occur within a wider elevational range and more pine-oak habitats. (Burn & Madge, 1994; Brown, 1994)

Range elevation: 1200 to 1800 m.

Habitat Regions: terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: chaparral ; forest ; scrub forest ; mountains

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Hernandez, M. 2002. "Aphelocoma ultramarina" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphelocoma_ultramarina.html
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Marta Hernandez, University of Arizona
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Todd McWhorter, University of Arizona
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Life Expectancy

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At the Southwestern Research Station in Portal, Arizona 2 males and 1 female reached 19 years of age and one of these males had a nest with eggs in his 21st calendar year (Brown, 1994). The period of highest mortality is during their first summer.

Humans can also affect the lives of Mexican Jays. Jays have died by eating corn kernels from a garden laced with fungicides, by finding pesticides in storage areas, and through collisions with motor vehicles. However, they are primarily preyed upon by raptors especially at feeding stations or picnic areas.

(Burn & Madge, 1994; Brown, 1994)

Range lifespan
Status: wild:
19 (high) years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild:
211 months.

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Hernandez, M. 2002. "Aphelocoma ultramarina" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphelocoma_ultramarina.html
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Marta Hernandez, University of Arizona
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Todd McWhorter, University of Arizona
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Morphology

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As with most birds, mass varies depending on age and season, with first year males averaging 118 g in June to fourth year males that weigh in at 137 g. This change also takes place in females, with first year females averaging 122 g in June and fourth year females averaging 128 g.

Both male and female coloration is similar. Mexican Jays are greyish blue above and dirty white to ashy-grey below. Head, sides of neck and nape blue while back a brownish-grey. Lower back, rump, tail and wings blue.

Adults have a black bill while juveniles retain a pale orange lower mandible through their first year and sometimes similar spots in their second year.

(Burn & Madge, 1994; Brown, 1994)

Range mass: 105 to 144 g.

Range wingspan: 157 to 173 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

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Hernandez, M. 2002. "Aphelocoma ultramarina" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphelocoma_ultramarina.html
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Marta Hernandez, University of Arizona
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Todd McWhorter, University of Arizona
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Associations

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Mexican jays have many predators.

Known Predators:

  • northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis)
  • Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii)
  • sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus)
  • red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis)
  • peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus)
  • common ravens (Corvus corax)
  • great horned owls (Bubo virginianus)
  • ringtails (Bassaricus astutus)
  • coatis (Nasua narica)
  • raccoons (Procyon lotor)
  • Apache squirrels (Scurius apache)
  • gopher snakes (Pituophis melanoleuca)
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Hernandez, M. 2002. "Aphelocoma ultramarina" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphelocoma_ultramarina.html
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Marta Hernandez, University of Arizona
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Todd McWhorter, University of Arizona
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Reproduction

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The mating system of Mexican Jays seems rigid but in fact is quite flexible. In the west, these jays breed in social groups of 6 to 20 individuals, consisting of one or two breeding pairs and helpers at the nest. Helpers are offspring from previous years. In eastern populations (Texas)birds are more typically territorial. For the most part, unpaired males start to build a nest in order to attract an unpaired female in their group. When a female is near his nest site he will circle around her with his tail up. He might also call to her with the Whisper song (See Communication) while spreading his wings. Once she accepts, the male mounts the female for a brief copulation, one to five seconds. Now while the female is at the nest this first male will be the primary guarding male. Although a pair may “bond” it is not always true that a females’ young are from this first partner. Extra-pair copulations have been observed in both males and females. (Burn & Madge, 1994; Brown, 1994)

Mating System: monogamous ; cooperative breeder

Eggs are laid in late March through April ranging from one to six eggs with four and five being most common clutch size. Second and even third clutches have been observed (although for the most part they were replacement clutches) and were smaller than first clutches. In Arizona, eggs were pale green in color but a pale blue with brown speckling in Texas. Females usually begin incubation after the third or penultimate egg has been laid. Males do not incubate. Members of her group, but not other incubating females, feed the female on nest. When she leaves the nest, for 5 to 10 % of the daytime, the nest is left unprotected. Incubation lasts 17 to 18 days. It is assumed that the young hatch on the same day because there is not a large size difference between young in a clutch. However, in larger clutches there are often runts, which shows that one or two of the eggs hatched later than the rest. Hatching has been mostly observed in the morning with the female either eating or just taking away the pieces of shell that end up in the nest. Young start out on average at 6 g at hatching and can reach 100 g in 18 to 20 days. At fledging, which occurs 24 to 28 days after hatching, young jays can actively fly for a few meters before gliding down. They might also perch nearby until group returns. At this age, their main form of locomotion is jumping, so if they get too far away or down a tree they can usually jump their way back up. (Burn & Madge, 1994; Brown, 1994)

Breeding season: beginning late March to mid-April

Range eggs per season: 1 to 6.

Average eggs per season: 4.5.

Range time to hatching: 17 to 18 days.

Range fledging age: 24 to 28 days.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous

Average eggs per season: 4.

All members of a breeding group participate in rearing offspring. Young are hatched without feathers and with their eyes closed. Hatchlings start out begging vertically and randomly and eventually learn to detect an approaching feeder. Most of the competition in the nest is for positioning near the visiting feeder. Young are fed mostly insects and some acorn pieces. They are fed over entire nesting period and several weeks after fledging. This dependence wanes when they start gaining foraging skills of their own. (Burn & Madge, 1994; Brown, 1994)

Parental Investment: altricial ; male parental care ; female parental care

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bibliographic citation
Hernandez, M. 2002. "Aphelocoma ultramarina" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphelocoma_ultramarina.html
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Marta Hernandez, University of Arizona
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Todd McWhorter, University of Arizona
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Transvolcanic jay

provided by wikipedia EN

The Transvolcanic jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina) is a bird endemic to Mexico.

Description

It is a medium-large (~120 g) passerine bird similar in size to most other jays, with a blue head, blue-gray mantle, blue wings and tail, gray breast and underparts. The sexes are morphologically similar, and juveniles differ only in having less blue coloration. The iris is brown and legs are black. It is most readily distinguished by the plain (unstreaked) throat and breast, and the mantle contrasting less with the head and wings.

Systematics

A 2011 decision by the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list Committee treats some populations of the Mexican jay as a separate species, called the Transvolcanic jay (A. ultramarina), based on diagnosable phenotypic differences in plumage and morphology, millions of years of genetic divergence, and no evidence for interbreeding with Mexican Jays. The Transvolcanic jay inhabits montane forest in the Transvolcanic Belt of central Mexico. Populations to the north retained the common name Mexican jay, but their Latin name changed to A. wollweberi because the Transvolcanic jay is the original A. ultramarina.

Footnotes

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2020). "Aphelocoma ultramarina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22724961A137734517. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22724961A137734517.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.

References

  • Chesser, R. Terry, Richard C. Banks, F. Keith Barker, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, Kevin Winker. 2011. Fifty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds. Auk 128(3):600-613.
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Transvolcanic jay: Brief Summary

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The Transvolcanic jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina) is a bird endemic to Mexico.

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