Florida Scrub Jay

The Florida Scrub Jay is a relic species (one that inhabits a much smaller geographical area than it did in the past) often due to habitat loss and environmental change) of fire dominated oak scrub habitat that has well drained, sandy soil.

The species was listed as threatened in 1987 by the federal government due to habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation. The scrub jay has seen population declines by an estimated 25-50% over the last ten years. The most recent overall population estimate taken in 1993 is 11,000 birds.

Figure one to the left shows distribution of the scrub jay throughout Florida. The species has been extirpated from Broward, Dade, Duval, Gilchrist, Pinellas and St. John Counties.

The Florida Scrub Jays  social structure exhibits cooperative breeding; which is distinctive to Florida populations. This trait has not been observed in other Western North American populations. The breeder males are dominant in the cooperative hierarchy; followed by helper males, breeder females, and helper females. The helpers participate in sentinel duties, territorial defense and feeding nestlings and fledglings.

To find out more information on this endangered species please visit the Fish and Wildlife report found here.

(Reference: Fish and Wildlife, Multi-species Recovery Plan)