Transvolcanic Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina) [XC265503]
by Andrew Spencer from Cerro La Bufa, San Sebasti\u00e1n del Oeste, Jalisco, Mexico (call)
Transvolcanic Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina) [XC265498]
by Andrew Spencer from Cerro La Bufa, San Sebasti\u00e1n del Oeste, Jalisco, Mexico (call)
Subspecies
Relationships of this species with the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) group and Unicolored Jay (Aphelocoma unicolor) yet to be resolved, as recent studies indicate that divergence of these three major lineages within the genus was apparently rapid, leading to conflict among genetic markers. Subspecies traditionally arranged into three geographical groups, but recent genetic evaluation suggests that isolation among rugged mountains of the region has produced four independently evolving clades: "wollweberi" group (includes also gracilis and arizonae), "nominate group" (with colimae), "central group" (potosina) and "eastern group" (couchii). Subspecies wollweberi intergrades gradually with arizonae to northern and gracilis to south.
The following 7 subspecies are recognised:
arizonae (Bonaparte, 1825) - Southern USA (south-eastern Arizona and south-western New Mexico) south to northern Mexico (northern Sonora and north-western Chihuahua). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi).
wollweberi Kaup, 1854 - South-eastern Sonora and south-western Chihuahua southern in Sierra Madre Occidental to western Zacatecas and northern Jalisco. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi).
gracilis G. S. Miller, 1896 - Western Mexico (Nayarit and north-western Jalisco). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi).
couchii (S. F. Baird, 1858) - Extreme southern USA (Chisos Mts of extreme south-western Texas) southern in Sierra Madre Oriental to southern Nuevo León and northern San Luis Potosí. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi).
potosina Nelson, 1899 - East-central Mexico (San Luis Potosí south to central Hidalgo). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi).
colimae Nelson, 1899 - South-western Mexico (most of Jalisco and north-eastern Colima).
ultramarina (Bonaparte, 1825) - South-central Mexico (south-eastern Jalisco and north-western Michoacán eastern in southern plateau region to Veracruz).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet