Photo: David Menke / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Pinyon Jay
Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of North America.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) is a member of the Corvidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 105 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Corvidae Crows, Jays
- Genus Gymnorhinus
- Species cyanocephalus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 105 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pinyon Jay is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Pinyon Jay is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) is a member of the Corvidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA w USA and nw Mexico.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 105 g, with a wing length of about 14.8 cm and a tail of around 10.6 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pinyon Jay?
The Pinyon Jay is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 105 g.
Where does the Pinyon Jay live?
The Pinyon Jay is found across North America with a range covering NA w USA and nw Mexico, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Pinyon Jay belong to?
The Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Pinyon Jay eat?
The Pinyon Jay is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Pinyon Jay migrate?
The Pinyon Jay is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Pinyon Jay endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Pinyon Jay make?
1 real field recording of the Pinyon Jay — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pinyon Jay's range?
The Pinyon Jay has a mapped global range of about 1.3 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.
Explore more birds
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Least Concern
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Least Concern
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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.