Sooty jay with a dark head and a bright yellow bill. Unlike many other jays, tends to be quiet and unobtrusive. Usually seen foraging in pairs or small family units. Glides across openings in the forest. Generally uncommon and local; frequently difficult to locate. No other corvid in the region combines a long tail, dark gray body, and yellow bill. Inhabits dense, mature coniferous forest in foothill valleys, high-altitude slopes, and flat areas.