(Garrulus glandarius)
Description
The Eurasian jay is a relatively small corvid and a member of the crow family. There are eight different racial groups, comprised of 33 subspecies, which have slightly different physical characteristics.
Eurasian jays have red-brown feathers, with black and white feathers on their face and wings, a white rump and black tail feathers. They also have a patch of blue-black striped feathers on each wing.
The jays found in the United Kingdom have a streaked crown. These birds grow to around 34 cm long with a wingspan of between 52 and 58 cm.
Eurasian jays have a screech-like call.
Distribution, Interactions and Behaviour
Eurasian Jays can be found throughout Asia, Northwest Africa, and Europe, especially in farmland and woodland habitats and around urban areas. These birds are residents to most regions in the British Isles.
They favour oak woodlands because they rely on acorns as a food source, which they hoard for the winter and spring. As a result, jays play an important part in spreading and burying acorns. Jays are opportunistic omnivores and also eat seeds, nuts, fruits, invertebrates, young birds, small rodents, and eggs.
Jays nest once a year and often mate for life.
Like other corvids, jays are intelligent birds and can mimic the sounds made by some other animals.
Further reading
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/birds/jay/
