Aphelocoma coerulescens

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PASSERIFORMES	CORVIDAE

Scientific Name:

Aphelocoma coerulescens

Species Authority:

(Bosc, 1795)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Florida Jay, Florida Scrub-jay, Florida Scrub Jay, Florida Scrub-Jay

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v);C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S., Bird, J., Crosby, M.

Contributor/s:

Bowman, R., Woolfenden, G., Butcher, G.

Justification:
This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a small and fragmented population and range, which continues to decline as a result of urban development and human disturbance.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Aphelocoma coerulescens was known from scattered localities in 39 of 40 peninsula counties in Florida, USA, but has declined since the mid-19th century and most rapidly since 1950. The current range is local and fragmented from Flagler, Marion and Levy counties to Collier, Glades and Palm Beach. The breeding population was 4,000 pairs in 1993. As the average group size is three, total numbers were probably c.10,000, a c.25% decline since 1983^4,5. Declines are believed to have continued and the current best estimate places the global population at c.6,500 individuals¹⁰.
Countries:	Native: United States
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick (1996), G. E. Woolfenden in litt. (1998).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is entirely restricted to scrub and shrubby flatwoods (a xeromorphic shrub community dominated by a layer of oaks Quercus spp. rarely more than 2 m high). Ground cover is sparse with bare sand patches for foraging and acorn-caching. It rarely uses scrub with more than 15% pine cover. Habitat structure and composition are maintained by frequent fires, and optimal habitat occurs 5-15 years post-fire. It is permanently territorial; territory size is often decreased owing to habitat fragmentation resulting in increased predation and reduced reproductive success. Dispersal is inhibited by more than 8 km of open, non-scrub habitat or 1 km of forest. First brood eggs are laid from March-May, and true second brood attempts are rare. Some nests benefit from helpers, which increase reproductive success⁹. It feeds mainly on arthropods, acorns and small vertebrates^4,5.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is entirely restricted to scrub and shrubby flatwoods (a xeromorphic shrub community dominated by a layer of oaks Quercus spp. rarely more than 2 m high). Ground cover is sparse with bare sand patches for foraging and acorn-caching. It rarely uses scrub with more than 15% pine cover. Habitat structure and composition are maintained by frequent fires, and optimal habitat occurs 5-15 years post-fire. It is permanently territorial; territory size is often decreased owing to habitat fragmentation resulting in increased predation and reduced reproductive success. Dispersal is inhibited by more than 8 km of open, non-scrub habitat or 1 km of forest. First brood eggs are laid from March-May, and true second brood attempts are rare. Some nests benefit from helpers, which increase reproductive success⁹. It feeds mainly on arthropods, acorns and small vertebrates^4,5.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Housing developments and citrus-groves have replaced much suitable habitat⁵. The rate of development in Florida has increased markedly since the 1960s as the human population almost doubled between 1960 and 1980². Fire suppression in remaining habitat has been identified as a major continuing threat because it causes scrub to overgrow and pine density to increase, rendering habitat unsuitable. Direct human disturbance and feral cats affect the increasing number of territories adjacent to housing². Birds in roadside territories are frequently killed by vehicles^3,6. Several species of snake, bird and mammal are native predators⁴. The recent spread of West Nile virus to Florida may pose a threat to the species⁸.

Major Threat(s):

Housing developments and citrus-groves have replaced much suitable habitat⁵. The rate of development in Florida has increased markedly since the 1960s as the human population almost doubled between 1960 and 1980². Fire suppression in remaining habitat has been identified as a major continuing threat because it causes scrub to overgrow and pine density to increase, rendering habitat unsuitable. Direct human disturbance and feral cats affect the increasing number of territories adjacent to housing². Birds in roadside territories are frequently killed by vehicles^3,6. Several species of snake, bird and mammal are native predators⁴. The recent spread of West Nile virus to Florida may pose a threat to the species⁸.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway The species has been studied since 1969 and this continues, especially at and near the Archbold Biological Station^4,5. There are now four populations of colour-banded jays that are monitored⁷. Habitat management by burning is still too site-specific⁷. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor the population^4,5. Regularly determine the extent of habitat^4,5. Research the causes of variation in birth rates, death rates, and spatial/temporal movement patterns, in both natural and human-modified habitats^4,5. Maintain the long-term ecological study^4,5. Acquire and actively manage a protected-area network^4,5. Burn patches of habitat every 8-15 years^4,5.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
The species has been studied since 1969 and this continues, especially at and near the Archbold Biological Station^4,5. There are now four populations of colour-banded jays that are monitored⁷. Habitat management by burning is still too site-specific⁷.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor the population^4,5. Regularly determine the extent of habitat^4,5. Research the causes of variation in birth rates, death rates, and spatial/temporal movement patterns, in both natural and human-modified habitats^4,5. Maintain the long-term ecological study^4,5. Acquire and actively manage a protected-area network^4,5. Burn patches of habitat every 8-15 years^4,5.

Bibliography [top]

	AOU. 1998. Check-list of North American birds. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. Chu, M.; Stone, W.; McGowan, K. J.; Dhondt, A. A.; Hochachka, W. M.; Therrien, J. E. 2003. West Nile file. Birdscope 17: 10-11. Cox, J. A. 1987. Status and distribution of the Florida Scrub Jay. Florida Ornithologists Society, Florida, U.S.A. Dreschel, T. W. 1990. Florida Scrub Jay mortality on roadsides. Florida Field Naturalist 18: 82-83. Franzreb, K. E. 2007. Reproductive success and nest depradation of the Florida Scrub-jay. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119(2): 162-169. Mumme, R.L., Schoech, S.J., Woolfenden, G.W. and Fitzpatrick, J.W. 2000. Life and death in the fast lane: demographic consequences of road mortality in the Florida scrub-jay. Conservation Biology 14(2): 501-512. Woolfenden, G. E.; Fitzpatrick, J. W. 1996. Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). In: Poole, A.; Gill, F. (ed.), The birds of North America, No. 228, pp. 1-28. The Academy of Natural Sciences, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.

AOU. 1998. Check-list of North American birds. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

Chu, M.; Stone, W.; McGowan, K. J.; Dhondt, A. A.; Hochachka, W. M.; Therrien, J. E. 2003. West Nile file. Birdscope 17: 10-11.

Cox, J. A. 1987. Status and distribution of the Florida Scrub Jay. Florida Ornithologists Society, Florida, U.S.A.

Dreschel, T. W. 1990. Florida Scrub Jay mortality on roadsides. Florida Field Naturalist 18: 82-83.

Franzreb, K. E. 2007. Reproductive success and nest depradation of the Florida Scrub-jay. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119(2): 162-169.

Mumme, R.L., Schoech, S.J., Woolfenden, G.W. and Fitzpatrick, J.W. 2000. Life and death in the fast lane: demographic consequences of road mortality in the Florida scrub-jay. Conservation Biology 14(2): 501-512.

Woolfenden, G. E.; Fitzpatrick, J. W. 1996. Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). In: Poole, A.; Gill, F. (ed.), The birds of North America, No. 228, pp. 1-28. The Academy of Natural Sciences, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Aphelocoma coerulescens. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2012.
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