Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)

Identification & Behavior: ~31.5 cm (12.5 in). The Green Jay has mossy green upperparts and center of the tail.  The rest of the tail and underparts are yellow. It has a black mask that extends down to the neck. The crown, nape, and back of the neck are pale. It has bright blue patches around the eye. It forages in pairs and family groups in montane forest. It also forages in semi-deciduous forests and semi-open scrub in the Manrañon Drainage. The Green Jay’s plumage is unmistakable in its range but see White-tailed Jay.

Status: The Green Jay is uncommon to montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 1100-2400 m. It also ranges in the Maranon Drainage and Huallaga Valley where it ranges at elevations within 420-2000. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Urraca Verde.

Sub-species: Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas yncas), (Boddaert), 1783.  SW Colombia (subtropical zone, in valleys of upper Cauca, Patía, and San Miguel) S through E Ecuador and Peru to C Bolivia (La Paz and Cochabamba).
(Cyanocorax yncas longirostris), (Carriker), 1933.  arid upper valley of R Marañón, in N Peru.

Meaning of Name: Cyanocorax: Gr. kuanos, cyaneus= dark-blue and korax,  korakos=  raven, crow. yncas: In reference to the Incas, the native peoples and rulers of Peru at the time of the Spanish conquista.

See more of the Family Corvidae