Pinyon Jay
Pinyon JayPinyon JayPinyon JayPinyon Jay

Pinyon Jay

Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Joshua Tree National Park
106 Verified records at Joshua Tree National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) is a species of jay, and is the only member of the genus Gymnorhinus. Native to Western North America, the species ranges from central Oregon to northern Baja California, and eastward as far as western Oklahoma, though wanderers are often sighted beyond this range. It is typically found within foothills, especially where pinyon pines (Pinus edulis and Pinus monophylla) occur. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Pinyon Jay sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 106 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Joshua Tree National Park

Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

80–90% · Very likely
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

20–30% · Possible
California Scrub-Jay
LC

California Scrub-Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aphelocoma californica

10–20% · With luck
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Verdin
LC

Verdin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Auriparus flaviceps

60–70% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

50–60% · Likely
Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Phainopepla
LC

Phainopepla

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Phainopepla nitens

40–50% · Likely
Black Phoebe
LC

Black Phoebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sayornis nigricans

40–50% · Likely
Say's Phoebe
LC Endemic

Say's Phoebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sayornis saya

40–50% · Likely
Bewick's Wren
LC

Bewick's Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryomanes bewickii

30–40% · Possible

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
2 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
3 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
4 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
6 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
10 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Pinyon Jay in Joshua Tree National Park?

About 2% of wildlife watchers report a Pinyon Jay sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 106 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Pinyon Jay in Joshua Tree National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Pinyon Jay in Joshua Tree National Park in our monthly data.

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