Eurasian Jay

Garrulus glandarius

Genus · Old World Jays Family · Crows, Jays, and Magpies
Observation tips Difficulty: EASY
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Forest deciduousOak woodlandUrban

Look for the flash of the white rump and the blue wing patch. Listen for their screaming 'skraak-skraak' call between trees.

Eurasian Jay
Stats
Wingspan52–58 cm
Weight140–190 g
Length33–35 cm
Lifespan wild5–17 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeCup
Clutch size3–6 eggs
Incubation16–19 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationResident
Social BehaviourMonogamous pairs

Diet: Omnivore

🫐Berries
🦅Birds
🥚Eggs
🦗Insects
🐭Mammals
🥜Nuts

Habitat

🌲 Forest coniferous🌳 Forest deciduous🌲🌳 Forest mixed🏡 Garden🏙️ Urban
✦ Fun Fact

Jays sometimes sit on anthills and allow ants to crawl over their feathers. The ants secrete formic acid to help the bird remove parasites.

About

The most colorful member of the European crow family. It has a pinkish-brown body and a bright blue patch on the wing. It is primarily a forest bird but lives in suburban parks and gardens. It is a shy bird and is often detected by its harsh alarm call. This call warns the forest of intruders.

Behaviour

Jays are famous for hoarding acorns. A single bird can bury up to 5,000 acorns in autumn. They are a primary driver of oak forest expansion. They are incredible mimics and can imitate buzzards or even mechanical sounds. In flight, they show a prominent white rump.

Similar species

Eurasian Magpie
🐦
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
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