Bushy-crested Jay
Cyanocorax melanocyaneus
The Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus) is a uncommon crows, jays, and magpi found in 4 countries, weighing about 101 g. The bushy-crested jay is a species of bird in the family Corvidae.
About the Bushy-crested Jay
The bushy-crested jay is a species of bird in the family Corvidae. It is found in Central America, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest. There are two subspecies, C. m. melanocyaneus which is found in Guatemala and southern El Salvador, and C. m. chavezi from Honduras and northeastern Nicaragua.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The adult bushy-crested jay has a length of 28 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in). The tail is long and the central feathers are graduated. The sexes look alike; the head, neck, breast and upper mantle are black while the remaining upper parts are dark blue with a sheen of green or violet. The underparts are plain greenish-blue, the undersides of the wings are grey and the underside of the tail is blackish. The head bears a stubble-like erectile crown of feathers, the beak is black and relatively small, the irises are yellow and the legs black.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Bushy-crested Jay can be seen all year round, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Bushy-crested Jay?
- The adult bushy-crested jay has a length of 28 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Bushy-crested Jay?
- The Bushy-crested Jay is a medium sized bird weighing about 101 g.
- Where can you see a Bushy-crested Jay?
- The Bushy-crested Jay occurs in 4 countries, including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
- What birds look similar to a Bushy-crested Jay?
- The Bushy-crested Jay is most easily confused with the Yucatan Jay, the Purplish Jay and the Plush-crested Jay.
- Is the Bushy-crested Jay endangered?
- The Bushy-crested Jay is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Bushy-crested Jay for real
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