Photo: Jairmoreirafotografia / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Curl-crested Jay
Cyanocorax cristatellus
Curl-crested Jay (Cyanocorax cristatellus) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of South America.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Curl-crested Jay (Cyanocorax cristatellus) is a member of the Corvidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 178 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Corvidae Crows, Jays
- Genus Cyanocorax
- Species cristatellus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 178 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Curl-crested Jay is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Curl-crested Jay is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Curl-crested Jay (Cyanocorax cristatellus) is a species of bird in the Corvidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA c Brazil to e Bolivia and e Paraguay.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 178 g, with a wing length of about 19.5 cm and a tail of around 13.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Curl-crested Jay?
The Curl-crested Jay is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 178 g.
Where does the Curl-crested Jay live?
The Curl-crested Jay is found across South America with a range covering SA c Brazil to e Bolivia and e Paraguay, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Curl-crested Jay belong to?
The Curl-crested Jay (Cyanocorax cristatellus) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Curl-crested Jay eat?
The Curl-crested Jay is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Curl-crested Jay migrate?
The Curl-crested Jay is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Curl-crested Jay endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Curl-crested Jay make?
1 real field recording of the Curl-crested Jay — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Curl-crested Jay's range?
The Curl-crested Jay has a mapped global range of about 3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Feeders for Jays & Larger Garden Birds
How to choose a feeder for jays and other big, bold garden birds — the styles that suit peanuts and larger food, and how to keep them from crowding your small-bird feeders. A decision framework with the species in the Birbs encyclopedia.