Gymnorhinus

Gymnorhinus is a monotypic genus in the crow family Corvidae containing a single species, the pinyon jay, a bluish-grey bird with deeper head colouring, a whitish throat and black bill, legs and feet, roughly intermediate in size between the blue jay and the Eurasian jay. It ranges across western North America from central Oregon to northern Baja California and east to western Oklahoma, closely associated with foothill pinyon pine forest, and is highly social, often forming flocks of 250 or more birds that post sentries to watch for predators. It is assessed as Vulnerable, with climate-related impacts and increasing human development seen as greater threats than habitat loss alone despite recent range expansion.