How long do Steller's jays live?
The oldest Steller's Jay on record lived to 16.1 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild Steller's jays live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 16.1 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–6 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 11.8–13.4 in, 3.5–4.9 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 7 of 11
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Steller's Jay can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Steller's jays usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 2–6 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 16–18 days to hatch.
How Steller's jays compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other crows and jays on this site.
- Common Raven69 years
- Blue Jay26.2 years
- Black-billed Magpie20 years
- American Crow20 years
- Canada Jay19.2 years
- Clark's Nutcracker17.4 years
More about Steller's jays
Frequently asked
How long do Steller's jays live?
The longest-lived Steller's Jay on record reached 16.1 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild Steller's jays live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Steller's Jay when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Steller's Jay ever recorded?
16.1 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Steller's Jay raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2–6 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info