Bird Guide

Turquoise Jay vs White-collared Jay

Turquoise Jay (Cyanolyca turcosa)

Turquoise Jay

Cyanolyca turcosa

Medium104 gForest

There exists no sexual dimorphism within the species. Adult turquoise jays are mainly a vibrant, blue-green color that can change depending on the lighting. The underside of the wings and tail are black. The turquoise jay has a thick, black face mask that extends to the auriculars and connects to a thin, black collar the wraps around the throat but does not extend around the nape of the neck. The forecrown of the turquoise jay is very light and almost white in color. The iris of the bird is brown while the legs, feet, and bill are all black.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Turquoise Jay
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Zamora-Chinchipe: Quebrada Honda, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Alina Martin · CC BY 4.0
White-collared Jay (Cyanolyca viridicyanus)

White-collared Jay

Cyanolyca viridicyanus

Medium120 gForest

The white-collared jay is 30 to 34 cm (12 to 13 in) long and weighs 82 to 127 g (2.9 to 4.5 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies C. v. viridicyanus have a black forehead, lores, and sides of the head. Their forecrown is white that extends as a thin border around the black and below the throat. Their throat and middle of the upper breast are indigo that is almost black. Most of the rest of their plumage is cerulean blue that is slightly bluer on the crown and nape. The undersides of their wings and tail are blackish. Subspecies C. v. Voice: What is thought to be the white-collared jay's song is "a very quiet, but remarkably varied, series of whistles, warbles, electric crackles, static, and other sounds". Its calls are "loud, electric or static sounds, popping noises, and high whistled phrases a wheezy whistled series: chew chew chew".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Allan Harris · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Turquoise Jay and White-collared Jay.