- Cyanocorax violaceus
Identification
33 - 37cm (13-14½ in).
- Slight frontal crest
- Blackish forecrown
- Sepia crown, side of head, side of neck, throat and upper breast
- Mauvish-white nape, shading to pale bluish-mauve on hindneck
- White upper mantle heavily tinged dull violaceous blue
- Dull violaceous blue rest of upperparts and underparts
- Indigo-blue tail
- Dark brown eye
- Black bill and legs
Sexes similar but females have more heavily tinged greyish underparts.
Juveniles are slightly greyer and duller than adults.
Distribution
South America: found in Venezuela, southwest Guyana, east Colombia, east Ecuador, east Peru, north Bolivia and north Brazil.
Common in most of its range.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Two subspecies recognized[1]:
- C. v. pallidus:
- Caribbean littoral of northern Venezuela (Anzoátegui)
- C. v. violaceus:
May form a superspecies with Purplish Jay, Azure Jay and Curl-crested Jay.
Habitat
Moist lowland forests, open woodland, forest edges, and secondary growth. From lowlands up to 1350m.
Behaviour
Usually found in active groups of 6 - 12 birds throughout year.
Diet
The diet includes small vertebrates, insects, eggs and fruit.
Breeding
In Venezuela one nest has been reported in April, in Brazil in July. Probably a social breeder. The nest is a bulky structure made of twigs and placed 9m above the ground in a tree. Lays 5 eggs.
Movements
A sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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. (2025) Violaceous Jay. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Violaceous_Jay
