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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Several shots of an adult bird, at the beginning besides a juvenile, perched and feeding on the hand of a birdwatcher. Locality Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada (ssp obscurus)
Josep del Hoyo 13 August 2012 32 weeks ago 37 sec 4.9 -
Gray jay perched in a spruce tree in winter. © 2010 Garth McElroy Locality Maine, USA (United States)
wildbirdvideos 15 February 2010 1 year ago 21 sec 4.6 -
Two juveniles perched and one of them feeding on the hand of a birdwatcher. Finally they fly away following an adult. Locality Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada (ssp obscurus)
Josep del Hoyo 13 August 2012 32 weeks ago 26 sec 4.5 -
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 4 years ago 23 sec 4.4 -
A bird preening on top of a spruce and looking around. Locality Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, Anchorage, Alaska, USA (United States) (ssp pacificus)
Josep del Hoyo 10 June 2012 38 weeks ago 24 sec 3.8 -
Two birds perched on a top of a spruce, one of them preening. Locality Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, Anchorage, Alaska, USA (United States) (ssp pacificus)
Josep del Hoyo 10 June 2012 38 weeks ago 25 sec 3.7
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Perched on a branch.
Locality Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada (ssp canadensis)
David Beadle 23 February 2012 1 year ago 4.2 -
Grey Jay at Olympic Peninsula in Washington State
Locality Olympic National Park, Washington State, USA (United States)
Ethan Winning 13 September 2012 1 week ago ADDED LAST MONTH 4 -
A close-up of an adult bird, and a juvenile on the background.
Locality Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada (ssp obscurus)
Josep del Hoyo 13 August 2012 31 weeks ago 4 -
Perched on a branch.
Locality Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada (ssp canadensis)
David Beadle 23 February 2012 1 year ago 4 -
Part of a family of jays hunting in the campground.
Locality Rushing River Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada (ssp canadensis)
Ken Simonite 14 August 2011 1 year ago 3.9 -
Grey Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)
Locality Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
Joris BERTRAND 12 July 2012 29 weeks ago 3.8
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Calls by one bird. Locality Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, Anchorage, Alaska, USA (United States)
(ssp pacificus)
Josep del Hoyo 10 June 2012 38 weeks ago 4 -
Calls from 2 birds Locality Anchorage, Alaska, USA (United States)
(ssp pacificus)
Andrew_Davis 29 June 2006 3 years ago 4
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