Aphelocoma californica

Western Scrub-Jays are quite common in northern New Mexico, but they do not come into residential areas that often. In the last few days, I have seen (and heard) flocks of them up high in the trees, however. When we first moved here about 35 years ago, they were quite common, but that was before we had houses built up all around us. Now we see them in the forests and open range, but they are not so often visible from the back yard.