Photo: Dario Taraborelli / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-throated Jay
Cyanolyca mirabilis
White-throated Jay (Cyanolyca mirabilis) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-throated Jay (Cyanolyca mirabilis) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 52.4 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 Cyanolyca
- Species mirabilis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 52.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-throated Jay is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-throated Jay is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-throated Jay (Cyanolyca mirabilis) belongs to the Corvidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA sw Mexico.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 52.4 g, with a wing length of about 10.6 cm and a tail of around 10.9 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3,739 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-throated Jay?
The White-throated Jay is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52.4 g.
Where does the White-throated Jay live?
The White-throated Jay is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA sw Mexico, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-throated Jay belong to?
The White-throated Jay (Cyanolyca mirabilis) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-throated Jay eat?
The White-throated Jay is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-throated Jay migrate?
The White-throated Jay is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-throated 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 White-throated Jay make?
1 real field recording of the White-throated 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 White-throated Jay's range?
The White-throated Jay has a mapped global range of about 3,739 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.