White-throated Jay
Cyanolyca mirabilis
The White-throated Jay (Cyanolyca mirabilis) is a legendary crows, jays, and magpi found only in Mexico, weighing about 52 g. The white-throated jay, also known as the Omiltemi jay, is a Vulnerable species of bird in the family Corvidae, the crows and jays.
About the White-throated Jay
The white-throated jay, also known as the Omiltemi jay, is a Vulnerable species of bird in the family Corvidae, the crows and jays. It is endemic to Mexico.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The white-throated jay is "the handsomest and most strikingly marked" member of genus Cyanolyca. It is 23 to 25 cm (9.1 to 9.8 in) long; three males weighed 50 to 54 g (1.8 to 1.9 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a mostly black head, neck, and upper breast with a white throat and a thin white supercilium that continues around the back of the ear coverts almost to, but not joining, the white throat. The rest of their plumage is slate-blue with a greenish cast. The undersides of their wings are dark gray. Voice: The white-throated jay's principle call is a somewhat variable "repeated, nasal perzheepup". Other descriptions are "a slightly raspy, nasal to shrill sheev-idee sheev-idee or shiev-a shiev-a, and a slightly buzzy sheir sheir".
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, August, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a White-throated Jay?
- The white-throated jay is "the handsomest and most strikingly marked" member of genus Cyanolyca. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-throated Jay?
- The White-throated Jay is a small sized bird weighing about 52 g.
- Where can you see a White-throated Jay?
- The White-throated Jay is endemic to Mexico, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a White-throated Jay?
- The White-throated Jay is most easily confused with the Silvery-throated Jay, the Dwarf Jay and the Beautiful Jay.
- Is the White-throated Jay endangered?
- The White-throated Jay is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the White-throated Jay for real
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