# Plush-crested Jay (*Cyanocorax chrysops*) The Plush-crested Jay is a colorful bird with a fluffy crest on its head. It loves to hop around in trees and is known for its playful nature and beautiful blue and yellow feathers. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Plush-crested Jay](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cyanocorax_chrysops_001_1280.jpg&width=800) Photo: http://www.birdphotos.com, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyanocorax_chrysops_001_1280.jpg) ## Appearance The Plush-crested Jay has a striking appearance with a velvety, deep blue-black crest and back, contrasting bright yellow underparts. Its face features a prominent black mask and a distinctive yellow ring around each eye. This creates a bold, colorful pattern. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Corvidae - **Genus:** Cyanocorax ## Interesting facts - Plush-crested Jays are famous for their loud, squawking calls that travel far! - Their "plush" crest is actually made of stiff, bristly feathers, not soft at all! - These clever birds are known for burying food, remembering where they hid it! - They often work together in groups to raid nests of other birds for eggs! ## Special abilities - **Mimicry Master:** Plush-crested Jays can copy sounds of other birds and animals, because of their flexible vocal cords that help them communicate with their flock. - **Cooperative Caregivers:** Plush-crested Jays have a unique social system where multiple adults help raise the young, ensuring more chicks survive to adulthood. - **Clever Cachers:** Plush-crested Jays can hide food items like seeds and insects in many spots, remembering where they buried them for later meals. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 33-37 cm - **Wingspan:** 36-42 cm - **Weight:** 0.15-0.22 kg - **Lifespan:** 12-18 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 18-20 days - **Migration Distance:** 0 km ## Diet & Feeding These omnivores enjoy a varied diet of insects, fruits, and seeds, occasionally raiding other bird's nests. - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Spiders, Fruits, Seeds, Bird eggs, Small vertebrates - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** South American Locust (*Schistocerca cancellata*) — Preys on these common grasshoppers. - **Eats:** Shortleaf Fig (*Ficus citrifolia*) — Consumes fruits and seeds from fig trees. - **Eaten by:** Caninana (*Spilotes pullatus*) — Eggs and nestlings may be prey for this snake. - **Eaten by:** Roadside Hawk (*Buteo magnirostris*) — Adult jays can be hunted by these raptors. ## Traits - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [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. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [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. - [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. ## 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 Plush-crested 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 Plush-crested Jay? 33-37 cm ### What is Plush-crested Jay's wingspan? 36-42 cm ### How much does Plush-crested Jay weigh? 0.15-0.22 kg ### How long does Plush-crested Jay live? 12-18 years ### How fast can Plush-crested Jay move? 45 km/h ### What does Plush-crested Jay eat? These omnivores enjoy a varied diet of insects, fruits, and seeds, occasionally raiding other bird's nests. ### Where is Plush-crested Jay usually found? Forests ## 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: [Plush-crested Jay: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plush-crested-jay)