Canada Jay

Overview

The Canada jay, also known as the grey jay or whisky jack, is a fairly large passerine bird found in the boreal forests of North America. It belongs to the family Corvidae and is one of three members of the genus Perisoreus, which is more closely related to the magpie genus Cyanopica than to other jays. This species lives on permanent territories throughout the year, surviving winter by foraging on food cached during warmer months.

Identification

• A relatively large songbird measuring between 25 and 33 cm in length with a wingspan of around 45 cm and a weight of 65 to 70 g.
• Features medium grey upperparts, lighter grey underparts, and a mostly white head with a distinct dark grey or black nape and hood.
• Possesses a short black bill, dark eyes, and black legs and feet, with a thick plumage that provides insulation.
• Vocalizations include a whistled quee-oo, various clicks and chuckles, and the ability to mimic the calls of at least 40 bird species, red squirrels, and domestic cats.

Habitat

The Canada jay inhabits coniferous forests across northern North America, extending from northern Alaska east to Newfoundland and south to New Mexico and Arizona. Its range is strongly associated with the presence of spruce species such as black, white, and Engelmann spruce, as well as jack pine and lodgepole pine. The species avoids areas like the Sierra Nevada that lack spruce, and lower coastal elevations dominated by Sitka spruce, preferring habitats with cold temperatures and tree bark that allows for food storage.

Diet

The diet of nestlings consists of a dark brown, viscous paste containing primarily arthropods, while adults survive winter months on food cached throughout their territory during warmer periods. Juvenile birds assist parents by retrieving these caches and bringing food to younger siblings in a cooperative breeding system.

Did you know?

In 2016, an online poll and expert panel conducted by Canadian Geographic magazine selected the Canada jay as the national bird of Canada, although this designation is not formally recognised. The bird's name 'Whisky Jack' derives from the anglicisation of Wisakedjak, a benevolent figure in the mythological traditions of several First Nations cultures.