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Photo: Colin Ebdon
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UK
Safari Tip:
Get help identifying birds with the superbly illustrated "Top 50
Garden Birds" identification chart - click
here
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Latin name: Garrulus glandarius
Size: Approximately 34cms.
Distribution: Found throughout most of the UK except northern Scotland.
Months seen: All year round.
Food: Nuts, acorns, berries and fruit.
Habitat: Woodlands, parks and gardens.
Special features: Jays are members of the crow family, and have been nicknamed the
'colourful crows'. They have pale pinkish-brown body plumage, with bright blue wing patches. They also have a black streaked head crest, which is raised when displaying to other birds.
In springtime you may come across large gatherings of jays. These are known as 'jay marriages'. The birds call and display to each other in an effort to find a mate.
Jays build a fairly small nest, low down in bushes and small trees. The female lays up to six eggs in April or May.
 In autumn you can see jays hopping around the woodland floor in search of food. In September and October there is an abundance of acorns on the ground and jays collect these in large numbers.
Those which cannot be eaten immediately are buried in the ground as a winter food supply. Jay normally remember exactly where they have buried the acorns. Those which are left, and begin to germinate, ensure the survival of the oak trees and provide food for future generations of jays.
UK Safari Bird Section
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