Photo: J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-headed Jay
Garrulus lanceolatus
Black-headed Jay (Garrulus lanceolatus) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-headed Jay (Garrulus lanceolatus) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 97.7 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 Garrulus
- Species lanceolatus
Where it lives
Eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan to western Tibet, Nepal and northern India
Quick facts
- Weight
- 97.7 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-headed Jay is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-headed Jay is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-headed Jay (Garrulus lanceolatus) belongs to the Corvidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL e Afghanistan and n Pakistan to w Tibet, Nepal and n India.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 97.7 g, with a wing length of about 15.3 cm and a tail of around 14.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 322,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-headed Jay?
The Black-headed Jay is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 97.7 g.
Where does the Black-headed Jay live?
The Black-headed Jay is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL e Afghanistan and n Pakistan to w Tibet, Nepal and n India, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-headed Jay belong to?
The Black-headed Jay (Garrulus lanceolatus) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-headed Jay eat?
The Black-headed Jay is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Black-headed Jay migrate?
The Black-headed Jay is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-headed 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 Black-headed Jay make?
1 real field recording of the Black-headed 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 Black-headed Jay's range?
The Black-headed Jay has a mapped global range of about 322,000 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.