(Video link. Picture of subspecies.) |
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**''C. y. longirostris'': Northern [[Peru]] (arid upper Marañón Valley) | **''C. y. longirostris'': Northern [[Peru]] (arid upper Marañón Valley) | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
− | Sub-tropical thorn scrub and riparian woodland | + | Sub-tropical thorn scrub and riparian woodland. Observed at heights around 2,000 m. |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
Seen in parties outside breeding season. | Seen in parties outside breeding season. | ||
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====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
'''Call''' high pitched and harsh - commonly one long then three short. | '''Call''' high pitched and harsh - commonly one long then three short. | ||
+ | #BF Member observations | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker14V4.3}} | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker14V4.3}} |
Revision as of 21:30, 4 January 2015
- Cyanocorax yncas
Includes Inca Jay
Identification
25 - 27cm. A distinctive jay with pronounced racial variation:
- Green tail with yellow outer feathers and yellow under-tail coverts.
- Cheeks, throat and upper breast are black.
- Forcrown and moustache-streaks are blue. Hindcrown bluish or white
- Whitish forehead and eyebrow streak.
- Eyes yellow or dark brown.
- Bill and legs black.
Juveniles duller black areas, blues more greenish, and under parts paler.
Distribution
North, Central and South America: found in southern Texas (USA), Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 12 subspecies[1], in two major groups which are now widely treated as separate species[2]:
- Cyanocorax (yncas) luxuosus – Green Jay. Mexico, southernmost USA, Central America. Underparts light green; head with blue crown, not tufted, and dark iris.
- C. y. speciosus: Pacific slope of western Mexico (Nayarit and Jalisco)
- C. y. vividus: Pacific slope of southern Mexico (Colima) to western Guatemala
- C. y. luxuosus: Southern Texas (Rio Grande Valley) to eastern Mexico (Puebla and Veracruz)
- C. y. centralis: South-eastern Mexico (Tabasco) to Belize, eastern Guatemala and Honduras
- C. y. maya: South-eastern Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula) and extreme southern Quintana Roo
- C. y. cozumelae: Cozumel Island
- Cyanocorax yncas (sensu stricto) – Inca Jay. Northern South America. Underparts bright yellow; head with white crown, raised tuft above bill, and yellow iris.
- C. y. galeatus: Subtropical central Colombia (west of Eastern Andes)
- C. y. cyanodorsalis: Eastern Andes of Colombia and north-western Venezuela
- C. y. andicolus: Mountains of northern Venezuela
- C. y. guatimalensis: Coastal cordillera of northern Venezuela
- C. y. yncas: Subtropical south-western Colombia to Ecuador, Peru and central Bolivia
- C. y. longirostris: Northern Peru (arid upper Marañón Valley)
Habitat
Sub-tropical thorn scrub and riparian woodland. Observed at heights around 2,000 m.
Behaviour
Seen in parties outside breeding season.
Diet
Acorns, seeds Texas Palmetto (ebony in winter), grasshoppers, crickets and other insects.
Breeding
Nest (north range April and May) in dense thickets. A thorny twig platform, rootlet, vine, moss and grass lining - eggs can be seen through nest. Two broods per season.
Eggs three to five greyish-white, greenish-white or buff background. Covered in brown, grey and lavender spots - concentrated around larger end.
Vocalisation
Call high pitched and harsh - commonly one long then three short.
- BF Member observations
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2014. IOC World Bird Names (version 4.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Green Jay. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Green_Jay
External Links