Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Bushy-crested Jay
Cyanocorax melanocyaneus
Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Central America & Caribbean.
The Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 101 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 melanocyaneus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 101 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bushy-crested Jay is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Bushy-crested Jay is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus) belongs to the Corvidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA Guatemala to Nicaragua.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 101 g, with a wing length of about 13.6 cm and a tail of around 15.2 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 124,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bushy-crested Jay?
The Bushy-crested Jay is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 101 g.
Where does the Bushy-crested Jay live?
The Bushy-crested Jay is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA Guatemala to Nicaragua, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Bushy-crested Jay belong to?
The Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Bushy-crested Jay eat?
The Bushy-crested Jay is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Bushy-crested Jay migrate?
The Bushy-crested Jay is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Bushy-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 Bushy-crested Jay make?
1 real field recording of the Bushy-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 Bushy-crested Jay's range?
The Bushy-crested Jay has a mapped global range of about 124,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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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.