- Cyanocorax caeruleus
Identification
40cm. Occurs in two colour morphs:
- Dark blue-black head, front part of the neck, and upper chest
- Small bristly frontal crest
- Bright cerulean or bright ultramarin blue body
- Dark brown eye
- Black bill and legs
Sexes similar, though females are smaller. Juveniles have purplish-blue back, wings and tail and a yellow spot close the base of the lower mandible.
Distribution
South America: found in south-eastern Brazil to eastern Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina.
Declining and mostly uncommon in its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
May form a superspecies with Purplish Jay, Violaceous Jay and Curl-crested Jay.
Habitat
Inhabits Araucaria forests.
Behaviour
Often seen in small flocks. Where sympatric with Plush-crested Jay tends to stay higher in canopy than the latter species.
Diet
The diet includes seeds, insects and fruit.
Breeding
Breeding season from October to January. A social breeder with helpers. The nest is made of sticks and placed 10 - 20m above the ground in an Araucaria tree. Lays 2 - 4 eggs.
A sedentary species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Azure Jay. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 8 November 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Azure_Jay
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
