Friend Jayne and I took a really nice drive yesterday, out to Deerfield Lake and then up a dirt road to Mystic. Plenty of hunters were out and about as well...flashes of neon orange here and there. N of Mystic, we came upon two gray/white birds...shrikes?! I was very excited thinking I'd found loggerhead shrikes, even though they seemed larger than they should be. Turns out the pair was a couple of gray jays, still an exciting 'lifer' find!
Loggerhead and Northern shrikes are up to 10" long, robin-sized, whereas the gray jay is 10 - 13" long. The loggerhead's markings are fairly similar to the gray jay's at first glance, but both shrikes have much more distinct black eye patches and their black wings are in sharper contrast to a much paler body. Also, the shrike probably wouldn't be here this late in the year.
I've never heard of a gray jay before. I've learned something today. Great shot!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice photo Jann - congrats on the "lifer", it looks a real cutie.
ReplyDeleteWell done Jann. A lifer and it's photo! Shrike will be next year :-)
ReplyDeleteHandsome bird. Would have never guessed he was a jay.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Really nice shot of the Jay..sure didn't know there were any other jays than the blue..he is pretty...
ReplyDeleteGreat capture of that gray jay and congrats on a getting a lifer. Now, find that scrike and make me even more jealous!! :)
ReplyDelete