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The Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), occurs in western North America from central Oregon to northern Baja California and east as far as western Oklahoma though it wanders further afield out of the breeding season. It lives in foothills where the pinyon pines (Pinus edulis and Pinus monophylla) occur. It was first collected and described along the Maria River in northern Montana in 1833. The Pinyon Jay is between the North American Blue Jay and the Eurasian Jay in size. Its overall...

Magpies are medium to large passerine birds of the crow family, Corvidae. These colorful and noisy birds are closely allied to the jays and treepies. The names 'jay', 'treepie' and 'magpie' are to a certain extent interchangeable, and do not reflect any genuine genetic difference between the groups. Research has recently cast doubt on the taxonomy of the Pica magpies, since it appears that P. hudsonia and P. nuttalli may not be different species, whereas the Korean race of P. pica is...