California scrub jay enjoying a beautiful morning in the Conejo Valley. Western scrub jays are among the most intelligent of animals. The brain-to-body mass ratio of adult scrub jays rivals that of chimpanzees and cetaceans, and is dwarfed only by that of humans. Scrub jays are also the only non-primate or non-dolphin shown to plan ahead for the future. Studies have shown that they can remember locations of over 200 food caches, as well as the food item in each cache and its rate of decay. #cone

California Scrub Jay | Painted Wing