Western USA from central Oregon southern along arid mountain slopes of eastern California to extreme north-western Mexico (Baja California), east to Montana and Black Hills of South Dakota, Wyoming, western Nebraska, western Oklahoma and New Mexico.
 
Population
Estimated population is 4,100,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) [XC602089]
by Thomas Magarian from McKenzie Hwy, Sisters, Deschutes County, Oregon, United States (call)
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) [XC156370]
by Eric DeFonso from Edge of the Jeffrey Pine Forest, CA route 120 near Mono Lake, Inyo National Forest, Mono County, California, United States (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Birds from Big Bear Valley (San Bernardino Mts), in California, described as subspecies rostratus, but appear inseparable from those in rest of species' range.