Black-collared Jay

Overview

The Cyanolyca armillata, or black-collared jay, is a species of bird in the family Corvidae. It is found in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Identification

• Adults feature a violaceous-blue crown and nape, with a black forehead, lores, and sides of the head.
• The throat and upper breast are ultramarine with a thin black border, while the rest of the plumage is cyan-blue.
• The species is 30 to 32 cm long and weighs about 100 g, with a black bill, dark brown iris, and black legs.
• Vocalisations include short, often musical notes, such as a rising 'hrwee', a sharp 'jet-jtjtjtjt', and a low guttural 'wowr'.

Habitat

Found in the interior and edges of cloud forest, elfin forest, and mature secondary forest, particularly areas with much bamboo and tree ferns. It inhabits elevations between 1,600 and 3,200 m in Venezuela and Colombia, and 2,100 and 3,150 m in Ecuador.

Diet

The black-collared jay feeds mostly on insects and also consumes some fruits. It typically forages in pairs or small flocks, sometimes joining mixed-species feeding flocks, mostly within the forest's subcanopy and canopy.

Did you know?

The species was originally described in 1845 as Cyanocorax armillatus and was later moved to the current genus Cyanolyca along with several other species.