The Florida scrub jay is the only native bird species to spend its entire life cycle in the state of Florida. The birds never migrate and are often found living as adults within just a few miles from where they hatched.

Like its cousin the blue jay, the Florida scrub jay boasts striking blue feathers, especially on the head, chest, wings, and tail. Parts of the bird’s back, head, neck, and underside are more gray or white in color. One easy way to tell the difference between the two species is that Florida scrub jays have no black markings.

Florida scrub jays live in dry, sandy areas, including ridges, coastal sand dunes, and river banks. The birds most