Alternative name: Central American Jay
- Cyanolyca argentigula
Identification
25 - 27cm.
- Black head and neck
- Whitish, strongly violet-washed narrow band over forecrown and extending back almost as supercilium
- Black nape and upperparts
- Bright cyan-blue upperwing and tail
- Lavender-coloured throat
- Blackish underparts with slightly cyan tinged belly
- Dark red eye
- Black bill and legs
Sexes similar. Juveniles are duller than adults.
Similar species
Similar to White-throated Jay but the white line is more extensive in the latter and ranges don't overlap.
Distribution
Costa Rica and Panama.
An uncommon restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies recognized:
- C. a. albior in central Costa Rica
- C. a. argentigula in southern Costa Rica and western Panama
Habitat
Moist montanes favouring oak forest. Occurs at 2000 - 3200m, occasionally lower.
Behaviour
Usually seen in flocks of 4 - 10 birds, outside breeding season up to 30.
Feeds on invertebrates, small lizards, small frogs but takes also berries and small fruits.
No information on breeding. Season probably between March and June.
A resident species with some altitudinal movement.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- 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) Silvery-throated Jay. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Silvery-throated_Jay
