Jays, Crows

Gray Jay, Perisoreus canadensis

Family Corvidae (Jays, Crows)

Size: 11.5"

Season: Year-round

Habitat: Coniferous forests, mountainous areas

Bold and inquisitive, the gray jay (also known as the Canada jay or camp robber) is a fluffy jay with a long tail and a stubby black bill. The plumage is dark gray above and pale gray to whitish below. The head is white with a variable amount of black on the back of the crown and upper nape. Juveniles are sooty gray overall with a light gray bill and a pale gray malar stripe. Gray jays glean insects, berries, or seeds; raid campsites; and cache food on the bark of trees using their sticky saliva. Their voice is variously sweet or raucous, but they are generally quiet. The adult is illustrated.