A Florida scrub-jay rests on the head of Navya Sharma, a senior at Seminole High School, during a recent visit to Lyonia Preserve in Volusia County.

In this Sept. 9, 2015, file photo, a Florida scrub jay perches on lantana in Seahawk Park, Cape Coral, Fla. UIG via Getty Images.

Florida scrub jay (Getty Images) It’s the only one of the state’s many native birds that is found only here, giving it a competitive edge in the battle for the top spot.

The Florida scrub jay’s ancestors, along with 10 other bird species, arrived from the American West around 2 million years ago. Of these, only the ancestor of the burrowing owl and Florida scrub ...

They really are part of what makes Florida so special. If you’ve heard of a Florida scrub jay, you’ve probably heard about them because they’re incredibly gregarious. They’re inquisitive. They live in ...

The nonprofit started in the spring of 2020 in North Port, targeting Florida Scrub-jay habitat. It quickly expanded to include land in unincorporated Sarasota and Charlotte counties.

The Florida scrub-jay would also be recognized as the official state songbird. The bill, aptly named "Designation of the State Birds," aims to amend Florida Statutes by creating section 15.0352.

Howe said the scrub jay doesn’t migrate, and the closest area we find them outside of Martin County is Ocala State Park. Jim Howe. Floridian scrub jay at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.