Learning to ID birds is a lot like learning to ID wildflowers -- start with five or 10 of the easy ones and build from there. ... Small birds, big payoff: Spotting species adds to any hike .

Steller’s Jay is a large black and blue bird with a prominent crest. The front portion of their body is black, fading into dark blue on the rest of the body. Credit : PINTEREST.

Dark plumage helps birds survive on small islands. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 2, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com / releases / 2015 / 07 / 150722164229.htm. Central Ornithology Publication Office.