# Eurasian Jay (*Garrulus glandarius*) The Eurasian Jay is a colorful bird with beautiful blue wings and a friendly personality. They love to hop around in trees and are known for their playful nature. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Eurasian Jay](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Garrulus_glandarius_1_Luc_Viatour.jpg&width=800) Photo: Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Garrulus_glandarius_1_Luc_Viatour.jpg) ## Appearance The Eurasian Jay has striking pinkish-brown plumage with a black tail, white rump, and a distinctive black moustachial stripe. Its most eye-catching feature is the brilliant blue and black barred patch on its wings, making it easily identifiable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Corvidae - **Genus:** Garrulus ## Interesting facts - A jay can hide thousands of acorns in a single autumn season. - Eurasian Jays are known to mob and chase away birds of prey. - Jays prefer to bury acorns in places with lots of light! - They often steal eggs and chicks from other birds' nests. ## Special abilities - **Memory Master:** Eurasian Jay can remember thousands of hidden food caches because of its excellent spatial memory that helps them survive winter. - **Mimicry Maestro:** Eurasian Jay can mimic sounds of other birds and even animals that helps them deter predators or deceive other birds. - **Forest Planter:** Eurasian Jay can bury acorns and seeds that helps them plant new trees and spread forests across landscapes. - **Predator Watch:** Eurasian Jay has a loud, harsh alarm call that helps them warn other animals about approaching danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 32-35 cm - **Wingspan:** 52-58 cm - **Weight:** 0.15-0.19 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-6 - **Incubation:** 16-19 days ## Diet & Feeding An omnivore eating acorns, nuts, insects, and sometimes eggs and chicks of other birds. - **Primary Foods:** Acorns, Beechnuts, Insects, Berries, Bird eggs, Nestlings - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Relies on its acorns for winter food supply. - **Depends on:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — Caches beechnuts, helping spread this tree species. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Sparrowhawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-sparrowhawk) (*Accipiter nisus*) — A common predator that hunts jays. - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Forages for these ants, especially in summer. - **Hunts:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Predates on eggs and nestlings of this songbird. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance, and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eurasian Jay? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eurasian Jay? 32-35 cm ### What is Eurasian Jay's wingspan? 52-58 cm ### How much does Eurasian Jay weigh? 0.15-0.19 kg ### How long does Eurasian Jay live? 5-8 years ### How fast can Eurasian Jay move? 40 km/h ### What does Eurasian Jay eat? An omnivore eating acorns, nuts, insects, and sometimes eggs and chicks of other birds. ### Where is Eurasian Jay usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Wildpark Bruderhaus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildpark-bruderhaus) — Zurich, CH · Zoo - [Juwangsan National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/juwangsan-national-park) — KR · Park - [Naturpark Solling-Vogler im Weserbergland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-solling-vogler-im-weserbergland) — Niedersachsen, DE · Park - [Sierra de Huétor Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sierra-de-huetor-natural-park) — Andalucía, ES · Park - [Lake Sanabria and the Segundera and Porto Mountains Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-sanabria-segundera-porto-natural-park) — Castilla y León, ES · Park - [Monte Aloia Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monte-aloia-natural-park) — Galicia, ES · Park [View all places to see Eurasian Jay](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eurasian-jay) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Eurasian Jay: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-jay)