From the Extension: The scrub-jay is Florida's most unique bird

Hundreds of birds call Florida home for all or part of the year. It has often been said that there is no other state better for bird lovers than Florida. While there are many bird species to be found in Florida, there is only one species that is endemic to the state: the Florida scrub-jay.

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Endemic means a species is both native to and found only in a geographic area. Florida scrub-jays are the only species of bird that are both native to the state and not found anywhere outside of Florida, making them unique among the state's many birds.

Florida scrub-jays have bright blue feathers on their wings, head, and tail with a more muted blueish-gray coloring on their back and underside. They are approximately the size of blue jays, but easy to distinguish from their distant cousins by their lack of black markings.

As their name implies, Florida scrub-jays are found in habitats with scrub oaks, sandy soils, and sand pines. They prefer to nest in short, shrubby oaks between 1-2 meters in height. The diet of the Florida scrub-jay consists primarily of acorns with a small number of spiders, insects, small amphibians and reptiles, and mice included as available.

They are known to harvest acorns when they are abundant, burying them for later retrieval. It is important that humans not feed Florida scrub-jays as doing so disrupts their natural behaviors (also, feeding scrub-jays is illegal).

Florida scrub-jays live in cooperative family groups consisting of a breeding pair and young helpers, typically the older offspring of the breeding pair who stick around to assist with raising their siblings and defending the family territory until they are old enough to pair off themselves.

The breeding season spans from March through June and the pair will generally nest in the same territory year after year. Each breeding pair will raise one brood of 2-5 young per year.

Florida scrub-jays are considered a federally threatened species. Habitat destruction, fragmentation, and degradation can all negatively affect Florida scrub-jay populations. As non-migratory, territorial birds, Florida scrub-jays typically do not travel far from their home territory to find food or mates.

As their habitats become smaller and more isolated, both of these essential-for-survival tasks become more difficult. Fire suppression has also resulted in fewer scrub oak habitats. Fortunately, efforts are underway statewide to restore and manage habitats through practices like controlled burns.

If you are interested in seeing a Florida scrub-jay in person you are in the right county! Several of our parks and natural areas feature ideal scrub-jay habitats. The Florida Scrub-Jay Trail in Clermont is a great place to learn more about our endemic bird while spending time in nature.

More information on the trail, including hours, events, and activities can be found at https://www.scrubjaytrail.org/. Tips for birdwatchers in Lake County can be found at https://www.visitlakefl.com/birding.

UF/IFAS Lake County Extension is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and is providing services both in person and virtually. Please visit us online at sfyl.ifas.uf.edu/lake and follow UF/IFAS Lake County Extension on Facebook.

 An Equal Opportunity Institution. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Andra Johnson, Dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Single copies of UF/IFAS Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county UF/IFAS Extension offices.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: The scrub-jay is Florida's most unique bird