Washington · Year-round resident

Steller's Jays in Washington

When Steller's jays are present in Washington, when they nest, which native Washington plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.

Crows and jays (Corvidae)Steller's JayCyanocitta stelleri

Status in Washington: Year-round resident
Nesting window: April–June
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4a–9a

When to expect Steller's jays in Washington

Steller's Jays live in Washington all year. Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward cached acorns and pine nuts.

Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades, semi-arid shrub-steppe to the east.

Nesting in Washington

Across Washington, Steller's jays typically nest from April–June. Nest site: bulky cup in conifers 10–30 ft up. Females lay 2–6 eggs, incubate for 16–18 days, and young leave the nest after 16–21 days.

Dry, sunny summers west of the Cascades; hot in the Columbia Basin.

Steller's Jays don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rocky mountain juniper, ponderosa pine, oregon white oak for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native Washington plants that attract Steller's jays

Of the regional native plants we track for Washington, these 4 provide food or cover Steller's jays use:

Rocky Mountain juniper

Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Oregon white oak

Quercus garryana · Tree

Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

Feeding Steller's jays through the Washington year

Common at campgrounds and mountain feeders; caches thousands of seeds in fall.

Best foods: Peanuts in the shell, Black-oil sunflower, Suet.
In Washington's winter: Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east.

Full diet breakdown for Steller's jays · Best feeder for Steller's jays

Frequently asked

Are Steller's jays in Washington year-round?

Yes. Steller's Jays are year-round residents in Washington.

When do Steller's jays nest in Washington?

Nesting in Washington typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 16–18 days.

What native plants attract Steller's jays in Washington?

Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Oregon white oak, Douglas fir are native plants in Washington that provide food or cover for Steller's jays.

Steller's Jays in other regions

Alaska Alberta Arizona British Columbia California Colorado Idaho Montana New Mexico Oregon South Dakota Utah Wyoming

Other backyard birds in Washington

Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.