Brown Jay

Cyanocorax morio

Brown Jays possess a unique inflatable air sac in their chest that produces a loud, hollow 'puck' sound just before they vocalize.

Scientific name: Cyanocorax morio
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Corvidae › Cyanocorax
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: increasing
Biome: forest
Habitat: Tropical forest edges, riverine woodlands, secondary growth, and agricultural clearing borders.
Diet: Omnivorous; feeds on insects, spiders, small lizards, fruits, seeds, nectar, and bird eggs.
Range: Mexico, Central America, Southern Texas (USA)
Size: 38-44 cm in length, weighing 200-210 grams.
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Active: diurnal
Threats: Generally resilient, but localized threats include heavy pesticide application reducing insect prey and extreme habitat deforestation.
Safe to approach?: Harmless to humans, though highly vocal and defensive near their nests. Maintain a safe distance of 5-10 meters to avoid causing stress. If a flock begins mobbing or screaming at you, calmly walk away from the area to leave their nesting territory.

The brown jay ( Cyanocorax morio ) is a large jay native to Central America and southern Texas.

Photo: Dominic Sherony, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist