Crows (Corvidae)
Grey Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) - HBW 14, p. 591
French: Mésangeai du Canada
German: Meisenhäher
Spanish: Arrendajo Canadiense
Other common names: Canada Jay
Taxonomy: Corvus canadensis Linnaeus, 1766, Quebec, Canada.
Recent DNA-sequencing indicates that this genus and Cyanopica form unique clades, separate from other corvids; significance of this requires further research, but it suggests that Perisoreus is not very closely related to Garrulus. Probably forms a superspecies with P. internigrans and P. infaustus. Size tends to increase clinally from S to north (and perhaps from coast towards interior). Additional proposed races are arcus (described from Coast District, in British Columbia) and nigricapillus (from Labrador), both subsumed in nominate, and .. View all taxonomy...
Taxonomy: Corvus canadensis Linnaeus, 1766, Quebec, Canada.
Recent DNA-sequencing indicates that this genus and Cyanopica form unique clades, separate from other corvids; significance of this requires further research, but it suggests that Perisoreus is not very closely related to Garrulus. Probably forms a superspecies with P. internigrans and P. infaustus. Size tends to increase clinally from S to north (and perhaps from coast towards interior). Additional proposed races are arcus (described from Coast District, in British Columbia) and nigricapillus (from Labrador), both subsumed in nominate, and griseus (L Keechelus, in Washington), considered a synonym of obscurus. Six subspecies recognized.
Recent DNA-sequencing indicates that this genus and Cyanopica form unique clades, separate from other corvids; significance of this requires further research, but it suggests that Perisoreus is not very closely related to Garrulus. Probably forms a superspecies with P. internigrans and P. infaustus. Size tends to increase clinally from S to north (and perhaps from coast towards interior). Additional proposed races are arcus (described from Coast District, in British Columbia) and nigricapillus (from Labrador), both subsumed in nominate, and griseus (L Keechelus, in Washington), considered a synonym of obscurus. Six subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- pacificus ( J. F. Gmelin, 1788) - Alaska and NW Canada (Yukon and NW British Columbia).
- canadensis ( Linnaeus, 1766) - N Canada from MacKenzie River Delta E to Labrador, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, S to N Alberta, C Saskatchewan and S Manitoba, S in N USA to NE Minnesota E to N New England.
- albescens J. L. Peters, 1920 - E Rocky Mts (from SE Yukon, S Northwest Territories, NE British Columbia and NW & C Alberta) E to C Saskatchewan and WC Manitoba, S in USA to E Montana, NE Wyoming, Black Hills of South Dakota and NW Minnesota.
- pacificus ( J. F. Gmelin, 1788) - Alaska and NW Canada (Yukon and NW British Columbia).
- canadensis ( Linnaeus, 1766) - N Canada from MacKenzie River Delta E to Labrador, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, S to N Alberta, C Saskatchewan and S Manitoba, S in N USA to NE Minnesota E to N New England.
- albescens J. L. Peters, 1920 - E Rocky Mts (from SE Yukon, S Northwest Territories, NE British Columbia and NW & C Alberta) E to C Saskatchewan and WC Manitoba, S in USA to E Montana, NE Wyoming, Black Hills of South Dakota and NW Minnesota.
- obscurus Ridgway, 1874 - SW British Columbia (including Vancouver I) and W USA in W Washington (Olympic Peninsula and Cascade Mts), Oregon (Cascade and Coast Ranges) and extreme N California.
- bicolor A. H. Miller, 1933 - NC Rocky Mts from SE British Columbia S in USA to E Washington, E Oregon and Idaho.
- capitalis S. F. Baird, 1874 - S Rocky Mts in E Idaho, W Wyoming, C Utah, W Colorado, EC Arizona and NC New Mexico.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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Gray jay perched in a spruce tree in winter. © 2010 Garth McElroy Locality Maine, USA (United States)
wildbirdvideos 15 February 2010 27 weeks ago 21 sec 4.7 -
Two birds sitting on top of trees and then flying away. Locality Escanaba River State Forest, Michigan, USA (United States) (ssp canadensis)
Bruce Steger 4 February 2009 3 years ago 23 sec 4.3 -
Two birds perched on dry branches and flying away Locality Wolf Creek Pass, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA (United States) (ssp pacificus)
Ann Hoover 3 September 2007 4 years ago 29 sec 2.7
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Part of a family of jays hunting in the campground.
Locality Rushing River Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada (ssp canadensis)
Ken Simonite 14 August 2011 25 weeks ago 3.9 -
Amongst grass and twigs
Locality Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Alan Debenham 28 May 2011 35 weeks ago 3.8 -
In a Chrismas tree
Locality Forêt Montmorency, Quebec, Canada
Guy Poisson 1 March 2009 1 year ago 3.7 -
On a Christmas tree
Locality Forêt Montmorency, Quebec, Canada
Guy Poisson 1 March 2009 1 year ago 3.6 -
Banded individual on the rail at the deck at the visitors' centre.
Locality Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
Miriam Bauman 19 March 2005 1 year ago 3.4 -
male - perched on a spruce tree branch
Locality Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada
Blair Wainman 13 June 2010 1 year ago 3.4
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Calls from 2 birds Locality Anchorage, Alaska, USA (United States)
(ssp pacificus)
Andrew_Davis 29 June 2006 2 years ago 4
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