Canada Jay Photo Gallery

Adult (Northern)

Large, round-headed songbird with a long tail and a short bill. Adults are gray overall, paler on the belly with a white cheek, throat, and forehead.

Juvenile

Juveniles are dark gray overall with a paler gray mustache. Some juveniles may be paler gray.

Adult

A fairly small, short-billed jay with overall gray plumage and a strong head pattern with white cheeks, black partial cap, and white forehead.

Adult (Rocky Mts.)

Residents in the Rocky Mountains are paler gray overall with a mostly white head (only small spot on the back of the head is gray).

Adult (Northern)

Highly curious bird always on the lookout for food. Gray overall with a whitish chest, cheek, and forehead.

Adult (Rocky Mountain)

A hardy species that lives in boreal habitats including high elevations in the western U.S. Rocky Mountain individuals tend to have paler heads, with gray instead of black on the cap.

Adult (Northern)

Rather fluffy looking with a round head and a long tail. Gray overall with a a paler head and breast.

Adult (Northern)

Generally fearless of humans and will often take food right out of people's hands.

Juvenile

Juveniles are dark gray, without the bold head pattern of adults.

Habitat

Found in evergreen (especially spruce) and mixed evergreen-deciduous forest across the boreal forest of the northern U.S. and Canada, as well as in high mountain ranges of the western U.S.