Lost Mine Trail Stop #8

Mexican Jay

NPS/R. Negele

Quick Facts

Location:

Lost Mine Trail

Amenities

2 listed

Benches/Seating, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

These wooden benches are located about 0.75 miles from the trailhead. This is a great location to take a break and listen to the birds singing around you. Many of the songs you hear are pleasant, but you may have noticed one call in particular that is best described as harsh. A fairly high-pitched, nasal, repeating weenk weenk weenk is the most commonly heard call of the Mexican Jay. Mexican Jays live in family groups of up to 25 individuals and may have several active nests in one territory. All group members share the responsibility of feeding young. They rarely disperse and stay with their groups throughout their lives. Their range extends from Mexico into pine-oak-juniper woodlands of the southwestern United States, including west Texas.