Identification: Pinyon Jays are large songbirds which are entirely dull blue in color, except for their whitish chin. They have a relatively short tail, a large pointed bill, and travel in large flocks. Juveniles are uniformly dull gray.

References cited in Species Profile 

• Balda, Russell P. 2002. Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2015. Pinyon Jay. All About Birds
• Great Basin Bird Observatory. 2015. Pinyon Jay.
• Ligon, J. D. 1974. Comments on the systematic relationships of the Piñon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus). Condor 76:468-470.
• Rosenberg, K.V., D. Pashley, B. Andres, P. J. Blancher, G.S. Butcher, W.C. Hunter, D. Mehlman, A.O. Panjabi, M. Parr, G. Wallace, and D. Wiedenfeld. 2014. The State of the Birds 2014 Watch List. North American Bird Conservation Initiative, U.S. Committee. Washington, D.C. 4 pages.
• Wiggins, D.A. (2005, September 5). Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus): a technical conservation assessment. [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain