Steller's Jay, Deformed Bill Photo Gallery by Tom Grey at pbase.com

Steller's Jay, Deformed Bill

I first saw and photographed this Steller's Jay in my yard in May 2007. I assumed the bird could not long survive with the upper mandible of its bill broken off at the base. But I saw and photographed the same bird in my yard in July 2008 and again in September of that year, and then again in April 2009 -- it had survived two years since I first saw it. The bird apparently has a mate with a normal bill, also shown in this gallery.

Steller's Jay, deformed bill, May 2007	Steller's Jay, deformed bill, July 2008	Steller's Jay, deformed bill	Steller's Jay pair, deformed bill and normal
Steller's Jay	Steller's Jay	Steller's Jay, deformed bill	Steller's Jay, deformed bill

comment |

Pat Marklevitz		06-Dec-2009 00:34
Several years ago I had a black-billed magpie in my yard that had a bill reminiscent of this jay. The only other thing abnormal about it was the plumage was very rough. I imagine the bird was unable to groom itself properly. It was around for a couple of days and then disappeard. Doomed to a certain demise I thought but lo and behold several months later it showed up again having made it through the winter (fairly severe here in Alberta), looking as healthy as previously and consorting with other magpies. You have to wonder if a bird without the mental capacities and wide-ranging food preferences of a corvid would be able to ride out a deformity of this magnitude. P.S. Very good galleries. Keep up the good work. Pat Marklevitz

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