adult

adult in flight European distribution adult with nesting material

Identification

Jays are splendidly colourful birds. The colour of their body parts almost defies description but the patch at the bend of the wing is unmistakably blue. The smirking black moustache and black and white flecked crown gives them a comical appearance. In flight the wings show black and white as well as blue but it's the broad white rump patch which is most conspicuous.

Habitat

Breeds and winters in orchards and dense thickets within woodlands, also in hedges and gardens.

Behaviour

Jays become more conspicuous in autumn when they regularly fly back and forth, collecting food, such as acorns in one area and burying it elsewhere. This process has played a vital role in the establishment and maintenance of Oak woodland.

Migration

Birds living to the west and south are sedentary but, when acorn crops fail, the populations in the north and east undergo mass 'irruptions' to areas in the south and west.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Jay is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Wykeham Forest, N Yorks 22/08/2010	Knypersley Resr, Staffs 22/08/2010	Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk 17/08/2010	Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk 17/08/2010	Wayoh Resr, Lancs 21/04/2010
Threave, Dumf & Gall 01/08/2010	Marple, Manc'r 03/05/2010	Abergele, Conwy 27/07/2010	Westwood-forrest, Hessen, Germany 14/07/2010	Westwood-forrest, Hessen, Germany 14/07/2010

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Jay breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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