Oregon · Year-round resident

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays in Oregon

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

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

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

When to expect Woodhouse's scrub-jays in Oregon

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays live in Oregon all year. Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward cached piñon nuts and acorns.

Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades; high desert to the east.

Nesting in Oregon

Across Oregon, 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.

Dry summers west of the Cascades; hot days in the high desert.

Woodhouse's Scrub-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 Oregon plants that attract Woodhouse's scrub-jays

Of the regional native plants we track for Oregon, 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.

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 Woodhouse's scrub-jays through the Oregon year

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

Best foods: Peanuts, Sunflower.
In Oregon's winter: Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades.

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

Frequently asked

Are Woodhouse's scrub-jays in Oregon year-round?

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

When do Woodhouse's scrub-jays nest in Oregon?

Nesting in Oregon 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 Oregon?

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

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays in other regions

Arizona Colorado Idaho Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Texas Utah Wyoming

Other backyard birds in Oregon

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 Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Oak Titmouse Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch California Towhee Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Black 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.