Bird Guide

Purplish Jay vs Yucatan Jay

Purplish Jay (Cyanocorax cyanomelas)

Purplish Jay

Cyanocorax cyanomelas

Medium207 gWoodland

The purplish jay is 37 to 40 cm (15 to 16 in) long and weighs about 185 to 220 g (6.5 to 7.8 oz). The sexes have the same plumage and both have a tuft of feathers at the base of the bill. Adults have a sooty black forecrown, sides of the head, throat, and upper breast. Their crown is purplish brown that becomes more purple on the nape. The rest of their body is bluish purple with a brownish wash, with the brightest shade on the remiges and uppertail coverts. Their rectrices are a dark violet-blue. As the body feathers wear they become browner and contrast more with the tail than when fresh. Voice: The purplish jay has a more limited vocal repertoire than many other jays. Its most frequently heard call is "a low, rough note, which may be given singly or in a series...described as "a low, rough DJEW or DJOW jar-jar-jar-jar... or craa-craa-craa-craa". Other vocalizations include "a crowlike car-r-r, a chah chah and quaw".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus)

Yucatan Jay

Cyanocorax yucatanicus

Medium118 gWoodland

The adult Yucatan jay has a black head, nape, and underparts. The back, wings, and tail are a sharp blue colour. It has black irises, black eye rings, a black beak, and yellow legs and feet. There is no difference between the sexes. The Yucatan jay is visually unique within its range, with no similar species. Outside of its range, it is similar to the San Blas jay, the purplish-backed jay, and the bushy-crested jay. All three have a yellow iris whereas the Yucatan jay has a black iris, and are a brighter shade of blue on their upperparts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: datadan · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Purplish Jay and Yucatan Jay.