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Gray Jay

Perisoreus canadensis ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: CORVIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Gray Jay Photo

© Mary Clay / CLO

A widespread and confiding denizen of boreal and sub-alpine forests, the Gray Jay frequently approaches people for food. It may even land on your hand for a morsel. This tameness can also lead to the pilferage of food not offered, and is responsible for the colloquial name of "camp robber."

Birds of North America Online
For complete information on this species, visit The Birds of North America Online.

At a GlanceHelp

Measurements
Both Sexes
Other Names
  • Canada Jay (English)
  • Mésangeai du Canada, Geai du Canada (French)

Cool Facts

  • The Gray Jay stores large quantities of food for later use. It uses sticky saliva to glue small food items to tree branches above the height of the eventual snow line. It may be this food storage behavior that allows the jay to live so far north throughout the winter.

Habitat


Forest
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Food


Omnivore
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Nesting

Nest Placement

Tree
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Behavior


Ground Forager
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Conservation

status via IUCN

Least Concern

No obvious changes in populations.

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Credits

  • Strickland, D., and H. Ouellet. 1993. Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis). In The Birds of North America, No. 40 (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA; The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
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Range Map Help

Gray Jay Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings
Project FeederWatch