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Although they're the most colourful members of the crow family, Jays are actually quite difficult to see. They are shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover. The screaming call usually lets you know a Jay is nearby and it is usually given when a bird is on the move, so watch for a bird flying between the trees with its distinctive flash ...
Family: Corvidae (crows) Habitat: broadleaf and coniferous woodland. Diet: acorns, insects, seeds, fruits and sometimes young birds, eggs and small mammals. Predators: birds of prey. Origin: native. What do jays look like? The jay has pale pink plumage, a black tail and white rump.
Jay. Garrulus glandarius (Linnaeus, 1758) J. JAY.. 15390 Family: Passeriformes > Corvidae. A very colourful member of the crow family, Jays are often mistaken for something more exotic from warmer climes. The pinkish plumage and striking blue and black barring on the wing make the Jay stand out from its neighbours.
- Appearance & Identification
- Diet
- Habitat & Distribution
- Signs and Spotting Tips
- Lifespan & Predation
- Nesting & Breeding
- Behaviour
- Migration
- FAQs
The Jay is the most colourful corvid in the United Kingdomand is easily identified when it breaks cover. Continue reading to learn how to identify these distinctive birds.
Jays have a varied diet, and their habit of storing food shows an impressive level of forward-thinking. Continue reading to learn more about the Eurasian Jay’s diet.
Jays have a wide range in the UK, and their population is expanding north and westwards. However, specific requirements limit suitable habitat availability. Continue reading to learn where to look for the Jay.
Being shy and wary, jays are most likely seen when flying away from an observer, showing rounded wings and the striking black and white pattern of rump and tail, while emitting a harsh alarm call. Flight is characteristically bouncy. Outside of breeding season jays may form small groups, but the species generally prefer a solitary existence.
How long do Jays live?
The average life expectancy of the Jay is about four years, although there are records of birds surviving 16 to 18 years in the wild.
What are the predators of Jays?
Jays are vulnerable to various predators, including Sparrowhawks, Goshawks, and domestic cats.
Are Jays protected?
Eurasian Jays are protected in the United Kingdom by the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
Where do Jays nest?
Male Jays select the nest site, usually in a coniferous or broad-leaved tree. The nest is built at the junction of the trunk and a larger branch, usually well hidden by foliage. They also occasionally nest in vines, creepers, cavities, buildings, and larger nest boxes.
When do Jays nest?
Jays begin breeding in their second year. They nest in the spring and produce a single brood each year. Egg laying usually occurs in early to mid-May, and incubation takes 16 or 17 days. The young birds fledge the nest after 19 to 23 days.
What do Jay eggs look like?
Jays in the UK usually lay four or five olive-green eggs with fine brown speckles. The average egg is approximately 30 millimetres long and 23 millimetres wide.
Jays are remarkably intelligent birds. Their ability to mimic other species, store food for leaner times, and provide their partner with their favourite foods exemplify the intelligence typical of the corvid family.
Do Jays migrate?
Jays are generally resident throughout the year and rarely move long distances. However, continental birds from northern Europe may form huge flocks in years when acorns are scarce and migrate to neighbouring regions, including the United Kingdom.
Are Jays native to the UK?
Jays are native to the United Kingdom. They have been recorded for hundreds of years and were even mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare.
Is a Jay a Magpie?
Jays and Magpies are both from the Corvidae family, although they are not the same birds. Magpies are pied, long-tailed birds from the Pica genus, while Jays are smaller, more colourful species from the Garrulusgenus.
Are there Jays in London?
Despite their woodland heritage, Jays are reasonably common in London’s parks and gardens. There they are more habituated to our presence and may be bolder and easier to observe than their wilder relatives.
A jay is a member of a number of species of medium-sized, usually colorful and noisy, passerine birds in the crow family, Corvidae. The evolutionary relationships between the jays and the magpies are rather complex.
GenusLiving SpeciesAphelocoma Cabanis, 1851 - Scrub-jaysFlorida scrub-jay, Aphelocoma ...Gymnorhinus Wied-Neuwied, 1841Pinyon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalusCyanocitta Strickland, 1845Steller's jay, Cyanocitta stelleri Blue ...Calocitta G.R. Gray, 1841 - Magpie-jaysBlack-throated magpie-jay, Calocitta ...Jay. Scientific name: Garrulus glandarius. The jay is a colourful member of the crow family, with brilliant blue wing patches. It is famous for searching out acorns in autumnal woodlands and parks, often storing them for the winter ahead.
People also ask
Is a Jay a crow?
Are Jays difficult to see?
What does a Jay look like?
Are Jays and magpies the same bird?
How long do jays live?
Where do jays live in the UK?
Jay (Garrulus glandarius) General characteristics Garrulus glandarius is a widely dispersed species of the crow family (Corvidae) that covers a large geographical region stretching from Western Europe to the eastern seaboard of Asia.
