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JAYS (CORVIDAE; 5 SPECIES) Worldwide family of social, intelligent, and often

noisy birds found mainly in wooded and forested habitats. Ages differ slightly; attain adult

appearance in 1st year, although Brown Jay retains patches of imm. bill color into 2nd year;

sexes similar.

WHITE-THROATED MAGPIE-JAY  Calocitta formosa 43–56cm. Spectacular

large jay of woodland and edge, gallery forest, open and semi-open areas with

hedgerows, taller trees, gardens. In pairs or small groups, foraging low to high;

flight rather slow and measured. Like many jays, can be loud and obnoxious, at

other times relatively quiet and inconspicuous. No similar species in Costa Rica.

Juv. has reduced black on face, weaker necklace, shorter crest. SOUNDS: Varied;

often loud and noisy. Calls range from harsh and raucous to mellow and

squeaky, can suggest large parrots. Most commonly a harsh rrah, often in series;

mellow rolled chowh; loud whee-wheep; and sharp whuit! STATUS: Common to

fairly common on n. Pacific slope, locally to 1200m; range expanding, rarely s. to Osa Peninsula since

2000s. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)

BROWN JAY  Psilorhinus morio 38–43cm. Distinctive, very large jay of forest

edge, open and semi-open areas with hedgerows and taller trees. Usually in

loose groups of 5–15 birds; forages low to high, from forest canopy to open

grassy fields. Flight rather slow and fairly direct; flying across open areas at a

distance may suggest Montezuma Oropendola. Note overall dark plumage,

bold white tail tip. 1st-year has yellow bill and eyering, becoming dark in 2nd-

year. SOUNDS:  Notably limited vocabulary. Monotonous and all-too-soon

familiar, a loud screaming KYEEAH! or KYAAH! often repeated mercilessly;

accompanied by quiet explosive pop, audible at close range. More mewing

reyaah mainly in breeding season, may be repeated steadily. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes,

especially at mid-elevations, locally to 2400m; spreading with deforestation. (Mexico to w. Panama.)

BLACK-CHESTED JAY  Cyanocorax affinis 35–38cm. Large handsome jay of

humid forest and edge, plantations, semi-open areas with taller trees. In pairs or

small groups, mainly at mid–upper levels in trees, but forages from ground to

canopy. Often rather shy, heard more often than seen. Distinctive, with

contrasting black face and chest, pale yellow eyes, bluish upperparts, bold white

tail tip. Juv. duller overall, with dingier eyes. SOUNDS: Downslurred, abrupt rich

chuup! and yelping kyuuh, both often doubled or in short series, repeated; slightly

nasal short rattles and chatters, cheh-cheh-chehr; varied other calls including

rough mews and scolds. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on s. Caribbean

slope, to 1200m; scarce and local (sporadic?) on s. Pacific slope since 2000s. (Costa Rica to nw. S America.)

*AZURE-HOODED JAY  Cyanolyca cucullata 28–30cm. Small jay of humid

foothill and highland oak forest, cloud forest. Forages low to high, usually in

pairs or small groups, sometimes with mixed flocks. Distinctive, but azure hood

can be hard to see from below. Juv. duller and sootier overall, duller hood lacks

white frontal border. SOUNDS:  Bright, ringing, upslurred eihnk..., usually

doubled or in short series; upslurred, inflected nasal rasp, zzeh’k, often repeated

steadily. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on both slopes, mainly 800–

2100m. (Mexico to w. Panama.)

SILVERY-THROATED JAY  Cyanolyca argentigula 26–27cm. Handsome small

jay of humid highland oak forest and edge, adjacent second growth and bamboo

thickets. In pairs or small groups, at times to 20 or so birds, foraging low to high,

at times joining loosely with mixed flocks. Often rather quiet and inconspicu-

ous, but distinctive when seen. Juv. duller and sootier overall, with dirty whitish

brow and throat. Eyebrow and throat silvery white in Central Mts., tinged lilac

in Talamanca Mts. SOUNDS: Varied nasal and rasping calls include an upslurred

rasping zzhéhr, sometimes doubled; rough nasal zheihn, often doubled or in

short, overall descending series; mewing rreihr, often in short series. STATUS: Un-

common on both slopes, mainly 2000–3200m. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)