
A Florida Scrub Jay at Blue Spring State Park
Photo credit: M. Wanner
Scrub Jay song: Gregory Gough
The
Endangered Birds of Florida
The Florida Scrub Jay
Aphelocoma coerulescens
To begin: what is a Bird?
A Bird is a warm blooded,
bipedal (two legs)
vertebrate (has a backbone)
with feathers,
bi
lls and wings and most can
fly.
It lays eggs to reproduce and
many theories have
it classified as a direct
descendant of Dinosaurs,
dating back to the Jurassic
period.
The Ocala National Forest extends
over several counties,
including
Lake
County, which is where we live.
Those of us who live in this
paradise know that
we are very blessed to have
one of
the largest
known colonies of
Scrub Jays
in the state.
The Florida Scrub Jay is similar to
a Blue Jay, but
it has no crest or black bars on
its back
and no white wing markings.

A Florida Scrub Jay
Photo credit: Erika Simons
This beautiful, indigenous bird is
seriously threatened
and teetering on the edge of
extinction
for all of the usual reasons.
The Scrub Jay must have a Live Oak
Scrub Habitat to maintain its way of
life.
The area that fits this description
perfectly,
lies within the Ancient spine
of Florida,
the Lake Wales Ridge.
Guess who else wants this same land?
The Scrub Jay's loss of habitat is
solely due to the developers
in Florida
who believe that building more condos, houses and
shopping centers
is more important than protecting
our only Native Bird.

A Florida Scrub Jay
Photo credit: U.S. Gov.
Along with the outrageously entertaining
and critically endangered
Scrub Jay,
Florida also has a kaleidoscope of
Tropical Birds.

Hear the songs of Florida's Birds:
Florida Bird Songs
It's what makes Florida an
Ornithologists dream:
The Great Florida
Birding Trail

A Florida Scrub Jay
Photo credit: Jeff Cox
Places to learn more:
Birdlife International
Florida Scrub Jay
Brevard County
Scrub Jay Habitat
Cornell
All About Birds: The Florida Scrub Jay
Florida Department of
Environmental Protection
Florida Acquires Rare Coastal Scrub Habitat
FWC
Florida Scrub Jay
Viewing
NPR
Lake Wales Ridge and the Scrub Jay
NWF
All American Birds
U.S. Forest Service
Aphelocoma coerullescens
USFWS
Florida Scrub Jay
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