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) [XC448831]
by Bobby Wilcox from Big Laguna Lake, Cleveland National Forest (near Mount Laguna), San Diego County, California, United States (call)
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) [XC205481]
by Eric DeFonso from Plateau S of Paradox Valley, Montrose County, Colorado, United States (flight 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.