Steller's jay in the conifers

Steller’s jays are loud, bold, and everywhere in the park’s conifer forests — usually the first thing to announce a bear or a person before you see either yourself. This one held still in the deep shade of a spruce long enough for the crest to register.

Why it matters

Steller’s jays are excellent mimics and can imitate the calls of red-tailed hawks, which some researchers think may be used to scatter other birds away from a food source. They’re also one of the few western jay species with a true crest.

Getting the shot

Deep shade under the canopy meant a high ISO and an underexposed frame that needed a real lift in post — the blue plumage held up well even pushed, since it isn’t reliant on subtle tonal gradation to read correctly.