Bird Guide

Black-chested Jay vs Violaceous Jay

Black-chested Jay (Cyanocorax affinis)

Black-chested Jay

Cyanocorax affinis

Medium212 gForest

Measuring 34 cm (13 in) long, this jay is easily recognized from its distinctive facial pattern and yellow eye. The head, face, and chest are mostly black with violet-blue spots above and below the eye, as well as a violet-blue malar stripe. The underparts are white as is the tip of the tail, while the upperparts and wings are mainly dark violet-blue. It does not exhibit sexual dimorphism.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Louis Imbeau · CC BY 4.0
Violaceous Jay (Cyanocorax violaceus)

Violaceous Jay

Cyanocorax violaceus

Medium262 gForest

The violaceus jay is 33 to 37 cm (13 to 15 in) long and weighs about 260 g (9.2 oz). The sexes have similar plumage. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a blackish forecrown and a blackish or dark sepia crown and sides of the head and neck. Their nape is pale bluish white that becomes pale blue at the base of the nape. Their upper back is pale violaceous blue and the rest of their upperparts a darker violaceous blue. Their primaries are blackish with violaceous blue on their outer edges. Their tail is indigo-blue. Voice: The violaceous jay's typical call is "a downwardly inflected Jeeeer! given several times". It also makes "a clop-clop-clop-clop, various quiet chortling gurgles, a descending ripple, and a guttural clicking".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Violaceous Jay
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call, calls · Sucumbíos: Mirador de Lumbaqui, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Lucas Illanes · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-chested Jay and Violaceous Jay.