Canada Jay Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesCanada Jay
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.
© Vitalii Khustochka / Macaulay LibraryManitoba, October 29, 2016Juvenile
Juveniles are dark gray overall with a paler gray mustache. Some juveniles may be paler gray.
© Will Brooks / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, May 25, 2017Adult
A fairly small, short-billed jay with overall gray plumage and a strong head pattern with white cheeks, black partial cap, and white forehead.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 02, 2007Not all videos have sound
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).
© Randy Pinkston / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 06, 2016Adult (Northern)
Highly curious bird always on the lookout for food. Gray overall with a whitish chest, cheek, and forehead.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, January 11, 2015Adult (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.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryColorado, November 01, 2001Not all videos have sound
Adult (Northern)
Rather fluffy looking with a round head and a long tail. Gray overall with a a paler head and breast.
© David Scott / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, June 17, 2017Adult (Northern)
Generally fearless of humans and will often take food right out of people's hands.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 05, 2017Juvenile
Juveniles are dark gray, without the bold head pattern of adults.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryManitoba, June 24, 1994Not all videos have sound
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.
© Timothy Spahr / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 02, 2017Similar SpeciesClark's Nutcracker
Adult/immature
Clark's Nutcrackers have longer, spikelike bills and shorter tails than Canada Jays. They also differ from Canada Jays in having black wings and showing white in the wings and tail in flight.
© David Hollie / Macaulay LibraryColorado, June 05, 2010Similar SpeciesPine Grosbeak
Female
At a distance, young and female Pine Grosbeaks can be confused with Canada Jays as they perch atop spruce trees, but Pine Grosbeaks are smaller, with small heads and yellowish or reddish plumage.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, February 16, 2011Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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