Burnside Jay
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Burnside Jay, Aphelonova mustax L 35-38 cm, WS 40-43 cm, Family: Corvidae
Description:
Large crestless jay with noticeably long and floppy wedge-shaped tail, slender body, and short, rounded wings. Superficially similar, and related, to scrub-jays of the genus Aphelocoma. Rich blue wings and tail, sandy colored back. Two color morphs exist. Light morph has white head and gray undersides, with distinctive black mustachal stripe which connects at the back of the head, encircling the crown. Dark morph has black head and undersides, with white crown and ear patch. Both morphs have black bill and legs. Sexes similar, juvenile plumage is gray overall with a blue tail. Lankier proportions than other endemic jays. Spends more time on the ground than other jays.
Voice:
Song consists of soft warbled notes and whistles, rarely heard outside courtship. Burnside Jays are extremely vocal though, with a variety of calls. Scientists have recorded over 30 different call types, including raspy weeping, metallic chinks, clicks, rattles, a common “chek-chek-chek” call, scolding, and bell-like ringing.
Range and Habitat:
Major populations east of the mountain divide and the Francis Islands, with a second population in the Twin River Valley. Burnside Jays prefer scrub, oak savannah, chaparral, dry juniper, grassland, post-fire burned sites and forest edges, as well as suburban greenery. Connectivity between disjunct populations not well understood, but crossover or individual migration from one area to the other seems occasional, not frequent.
Discussion:
The Burnside Jay is a distinct, hallmark bird common to Novasola’s lowlands and arid regions. They are intelligent, curious, and playful, and this combined with their strange facial pattern and vocal nature make them an entertaining, if not comical, bird to observe.
Frequently studied, Burnside Jays exhibit many intriguing traits and behaviors. These birds are quite unique and thus a common subject of scientific research, especially regarding social structures, intelligence, and morphological and phenotypic variation. Among the most obvious characteristics is the relationship between the color morphs, of which there are two: a light morph and a dark morph. The actual proportions of plumage variety in the two Burnside populations differ, with about 35% of the eastern population comprised of dark morph individuals, and almost 45% dark morphs in the western population. This makes Burnsides unique among corvids for displaying two separate color morphs with almost equal percentages within the population. In fact, it is common that in a breeding pair, both morphs are represented. Research has shown that light plumage has a correlation with more aggressive behavior and higher rates of hormones like testosterone, while dark morphs from either sex tend to be more submissive, cautious, and nurturing. This is similar to a phenomenon documented in White-throated Sparrows of eastern North America.
Another often researched facet of Burnside Jays is their complex social structures. Burnsides mate for life, however studies have shown that Burnsides, especially light morphs, frequently engage in extra-pair copulation (that is, mating with other individuals outside the pair). They also exhibit cooperative breeding systems wherein multiple birds, usually relatives of either member of a breeding pair, act as “helpers” and aid in raising chicks at each nest instead of rearing chicks of their own. The advantages of this behavior for the helpers are not yet understood, but it has been observed that helpers will sometimes secretly mate with a member of the pair or with other helpers, and that multiple females will lay eggs into the same nest, regardless of whether the male defending that nest was the father. This perhaps ensures the breeding male, who is capable of defending a territory and potentially the most fit, will defend the eggs regardless of parentage. This breeding strategy is so complex it has taken scientists decades to understand even this much, and much research is still needed, especially regarding genetic research, which is the only reliable way to trace relationships between parents and offspring. No other corvids exhibit cooperative breeding or mixed-parent shared nesting to this degree.
Like all corvids, the Burnside Jay is exceptionally intelligent. They exhibit food caching behavior to a greater extent than other native jays, and have excellent memories; studies show they can relocate up to 80% of their food stashes. Omnivores, they will eat arthropods, eggs, lizards, snakes, small mammals, carrion, berries, and in the winter will eat more seeds, grains, and nuts, especially acorns. Burnsides are capable problem-solvers and are adept at locating and exploiting novel food sources. They are also extremely curious. As such, Burnsides will approach humans for food like other jays and are common around dumps and trash piles when not outcompeted by crows, ravens, and magpies.
The Burnside Jay is the only member of its genus, Aphelonova, but is related to scrub-jays in the genus Aphelocoma, wherefrom the Burnside gets its Latin name. The species name mustax refers to the facial striping. Despite often inhabiting burned areas, the Burnside Jay actually gets its name from its distinctive mustache stripe. Early settlers of Novasola thought the pattern looked like mutton-chops or sideburns, and took to calling them Burnsides Jays. The term “burnside” (and later “sideburn”) came from Senator Ambrose Burnsides of Rhode Island, a civil war general who popularized the distinctive facial hair. The Gaal’kwaan name for the Burnside Jay is ts’atshadoogú, possibly meaning “scalped bird”. In recent years there has been an international push to change all eponymous bird names in an attempt to remove "ownership" of species and not to honor problematic historical figures; those who wish to see this bird's common name changed prefer the name Moustache Jay.
Common to the scrubland and dry country, Burnside Jays were not only one of Reichwald’s first descriptions, but also one of his favorites. Their playful nature, intelligence, goofy pattern, and unique communal behaviors captivated him. Rightfully so, as the Burnside Jay has continued to captivate scientists and birdwatcher alike.
“After only about an hour or so from when I arrived at the island, I had already heard calls from what I estimate to be twenty-seven distinct species. One such sound was an incessant hoarse checking which has seemingly permeated every outdoor space in town. It was not long before I found its source: an ever so curious looking scrub-jay. A dapper gentleman, this bird's appearance is that of a distinguished, whiskered fellow. A bold stripe runs down its cheeks and back to its crown. I have heard the locals refer to it, humorously, as Mustache Bird, Bearded Bird, or Burnsides Bird.
The Burnsides scrub-jay comes in two colors: gray and black. The gray birds seem to have a slight numbers advantage, but the two types mingle among each other unsegregated as if they can see no difference.” -Personal journal, March 2, 1902
“The Burnsides Scrub-Jay is a prominent member of any open country. One could scarcely travel through the oak valleys or coastal scrub without a sighting. Often in groups, and in the winter in flocks of nearly 30 individuals.
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Their social lives are complex and hierarchical. In winter months they will congregate in flocks of many individuals, who establish among themselves a sort of pecking order, much like what I have observed in domestic chickens. During the breeding season a pair will mate, the female will incubate while the male and up to five other jays, who themselves hatch no offspring, help to bring her food and later food for the chicks. Those unmated individuals stick with the pair until the offspring have fledged, when all parties go their separate ways. Mates rarely stick together, and males hold territory. That the breeding male would allow so many other birds, including other males, to gain access to his territory, let only his nest, is unique among Novasolan corvids. This strategy, muddled as it is, was made yet less understandable after I observed on numerous occasion breeding males mate with the nest helpers when the bonded female was not around, and I have seen multiple females lay eggs into the same nest. All this confusion must make it impossible for any jay to know whose offspring are whose.
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The Scrub-Jay never seems wont for fun. Bouncy and playful, watching the jays hop along the ground, eagerly twitching their heads back and forth, chasing beetles as they take wing, is a pleasure to any observant enough. Indeed, Burnsides are a favorite of locals, not only for their stylish whiskers but for their frisky and comical apparent cheer. A Scrub-Jay in a well-infested lawn behaves the way a cat does with yarn.” – Native Birds of Novasola, 1912