Photo: Vladimir Yu. Arkhipov, Arkhivov / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mongolian Ground Jay
Podoces hendersoni
Mongolian Ground Jay (Podoces hendersoni) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Europe & Northern Asia.
The Mongolian Ground Jay (Podoces hendersoni) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 120 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 Podoces
- Species hendersoni
Where it lives
Northern, eastern Xinjiang south through Qinghai and east to western Nei Mongol (northwestern, north-central China) and western, southern Mongolia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 120 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Critically Endangered
Near Threatened
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mongolian Ground Jay is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Mongolian Ground Jay is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Mongolian Ground Jay (Podoces hendersoni) belongs to the Corvidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL n, e Xinjiang s through Qinghai and e to w Nei Mongol (nw, nc China) and w, s Mongolia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 120 g, with a wing length of about 13.9 cm and a tail of around 10.1 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 1.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mongolian Ground Jay?
The Mongolian Ground Jay is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 120 g.
Where does the Mongolian Ground Jay live?
The Mongolian Ground Jay is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL n, e Xinjiang s through Qinghai and e to w Nei Mongol (nw, nc China) and w, s Mongolia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Mongolian Ground Jay belong to?
The Mongolian Ground Jay (Podoces hendersoni) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Mongolian Ground Jay eat?
The Mongolian Ground Jay is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Mongolian Ground Jay migrate?
The Mongolian Ground Jay is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Mongolian Ground 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 Mongolian Ground Jay make?
1 real field recording of the Mongolian Ground 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 Mongolian Ground Jay's range?
The Mongolian Ground Jay has a mapped global range of about 1.8 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.