New Mexico · Year-round resident

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays in New Mexico

When Woodhouse's scrub-jays are present in New Mexico, when they nest, which native New Mexico plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–9a yard.

Crows and jays (Corvidae)Woodhouse's Scrub-JayAphelocoma woodhouseii

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

When to expect Woodhouse's scrub-jays in New Mexico

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays live in New Mexico all year. Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward cached piñon nuts and acorns.

Arid to semi-arid, with Chihuahuan desert in the south and mountain forest above 7,000 ft.

Nesting in New Mexico

Across New Mexico, Woodhouse's scrub-jays typically nest from April–June. Nest site: twig cup in junipers and oaks. Females lay 2–7 eggs, incubate for 15–17 days, and young leave the nest after 18 days.

Hot, dry early summer followed by the July–August monsoon.

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

Native New Mexico plants that attract Woodhouse's scrub-jays

Of the regional native plants we track for New Mexico, these 4 provide food or cover Woodhouse's scrub-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.

Gambel oak

Quercus gambelii · Tree

Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

Feeding Woodhouse's scrub-jays through the New Mexico year

A bird of piñon-juniper and oak scrub; common in Great Basin and Southwest yards.

Best foods: Peanuts, Sunflower.
In New Mexico's winter: Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations.

Full diet breakdown for Woodhouse's scrub-jays · Best feeder for Woodhouse's scrub-jays

Frequently asked

Are Woodhouse's scrub-jays in New Mexico year-round?

Yes. Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays are year-round residents in New Mexico.

When do Woodhouse's scrub-jays nest in New Mexico?

Nesting in New Mexico typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 15–17 days.

What native plants attract Woodhouse's scrub-jays in New Mexico?

Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Douglas fir are native plants in New Mexico that provide food or cover for Woodhouse's scrub-jays.

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays in other regions

Arizona Colorado Idaho Nevada Oklahoma Oregon Texas Utah Wyoming

Other backyard birds in New Mexico

Northern Cardinal Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Mountain Chickadee Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Gambel's Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Black Phoebe Gila Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Cactus Wren Curve-billed Thrasher Verdin Pyrrhuloxia Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove White-winged Dove Inca 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.