Biology - Key to jays of north america Lab
- 1. Name ________________________________ Date _______________ Per ____ Dichotomous Key Notes Dichotomous Key - _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Rules for Using a Dichotomous Key 1. _______________________________________________________________ 2. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 3. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Answers Practice __________________________ ____________________________ (Common Name) (Scientific Name) 1st Picture ________________________ ____________________________ (Common Name) (Scientific Name) 2nd Picture _______________________ ____________________________ (Common Name) (Scientific Name)
- 2. Key to Jays of North America 1a. If the jay has a crest on the head, go to Step 2. 1b. If the jay has no crest, go to Step 3. 2a. If the jay’s crest and upper body are mostly blue, it is a blue jay Cyanocitta cristata 2b. If the jay’s crest and upper body are brown or gray, it is a stellar’s jay, Cyanocitta stelleri 3a. If the jay is mostly blue, go to Step 4. 3b. If the jay has little or no blue, go to Step 6. 4a. If the jay has a white throat outlined in blue, it is a scrub jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens. 4b. If the throat is not white go to Step 5. 5a. If the jay has a dark eye mask and has a gray breast, it is a gray- breasted jay, Aphelocoma ultramarines. 5b. If the jay has no eye mask and has a gray breast, it is a pinyon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus. 6a. If the jay is mostly gray and has black and white head markings, it is a gray jay, Perisoreus canadensis. 6b. If the jay is not gray, go to Step 7. 7a. If the jay has a brilliant green body with some blue on the head, it is a green jay, Cyanocorax yncas. 7b. If the jay has a plain brown body, it is a brown jay, Cyanocorax moria.