Florida Scrub-Jay

Why it’s sensitive

The Florida Scrub-Jay lives only in Florida, and only in one habitat: low, sandy oak scrub that needs occasional fire to stay open. Most of that scrub has been cleared or overgrown, and the jay is listed as Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Scrub-jays are famously bold and will take food from people’s hands — which is exactly why feeding them is prohibited except under the direction of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Birds that learn to expect handouts come to roads and yards, where they are hit by cars and caught by cats, and well-fed birds can nest too early in the year for their chicks to find natural food.

Where

There is little scrub-jay habitat on Amelia Island itself. The closest populations to us are in scrub southwest of Jacksonville, such as in Putnam County and the Ocala National Forest — places a club trip could visit.

When

All year. Scrub-jays don’t migrate.

How eBird handles it

The Florida Scrub-Jay is not on eBird’s Sensitive Species list, so eBird sightings are public.

How iNaturalist handles it

iNaturalist obscures Florida Scrub-Jay observations everywhere, all year, because of its global Vulnerable status.

What we ask of members

Never feed scrub-jays, even if they land next to you asking — and gently tell others not to.
Name the park or forest, not the family group’s spot — no street or neighborhood names, especially for jays on private land or near roads.
Drive slowly on roads through scrub; jays often feed on the shoulders.
Look for color bands — many scrub-jays are banded for long-term studies. Note the colors and report them with your sighting.

All year