Green Jay
Cyanocorax yncas
Green Jays are known to use sticks as tools to pry insects from tree bark, showcasing the high intelligence typical of the corvid family.
- Scientific name
- Cyanocorax yncas
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Corvidae › Cyanocorax
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Subtropical woodlands, mesquite brushlands, and humid montane forests.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; feeds on insects, seeds, fruits, acorns, and occasionally small vertebrates or eggs.
- Range
- South Texas, Mexico, Central America, Andean Mountains
- Size
- Length: 25-29 cm; Weight: 66-110 g.
- Lifespan
- 6-11 years in the wild.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation and nest parasitism by Bronzed Cowbirds.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and highly inquisitive. Observe from a distance of 10-15 feet to avoid causing stress. Do not offer human food, as it can lead to dependency and poor nutrition.
The green jay ( Cyanocorax yncas ) is a bird species of the New World jays, and is found in both North and South America. Adults are about 27 cm (11 in) long and variable in colour across their range; they usually have blue and black heads, green wings and mantle, bluish-green tails, black bills, yellow or brown eye rings, and dark legs. The basic diet consists of arthropods, vertebrates, seeds, and fruit. The nest is usually built in a...
Photo: Esteban Poveda, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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