Canada Jay
(Perisoreus canadensis)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure SNR - Unranked |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description
Size
Total length: 11″ to 13″
Wingspan: 18″
Voice
Canada Jays have a varied repertoire of short calls made of soft, whistled or husky notes, including a whistled wheeoo and weef, a husky chuf, a soft chef, and a rough kreh. They can also imitate other birds, even those that prey on them, including owls and hawks.
Similar Species
Habitat
Coniferous and mixed forests, bogs, fens
Ecology
Migration
Nesting
Food
Distribution
Occurrence
Uncommon year-round resident
Maps
The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map
Taxonomy
Class
Aves (birds)
Order
Passeriformes (perching birds)
Family
Corvidae (crows, jays, and magpies)
Genus
Perisoreus (boreal jays)
Subordinate Taxa
Alberta Jay (Perisoreus canadensis albescens) 
Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis griseus)
Idaho Jay (Perisoreus canadensis bicolor)
Labrador Jay (Perisoreus canadensis nigricapillus)
Newfoundland Jay (Perisoreus canadensis sanfordi)
Oregon Jay (Perisoreus canadensis obscurus)
Pacific Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis pacificus)
Rocky Mountain Jay (Perisoreus canadensis capitalis)
Taiga Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis canadensis)
Synonyms
Corvus canadensis
Common Names
Corvus canadensis was originally called Canada Jay, at least from 1851 to 1947. In 1947 the American Ornithological Union (AOU), which became the American Ornithological Society (AOS) when it merged with the Cooper Ornithological Society in 2016), changed the name to Gray Jay. This was to comply with a rule that a subspecies should be named for the region where it is found. It would have given the subspecies of this bird two geographical names, causing confusion. In 1957, the AOU changed that rule and Gray Jay should have been changed back to Canada Jay. That did not happen until 2018.
Visitor Photos
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Ramona Abrego |
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Hand feeding |
Andy Witchger |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
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Slideshows
Gray Jay
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
Gray Jay
JMC Nature Photos
Gray Jay
jt893x
Visitor Videos
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Other Videos
Gray Jays
WIld Bird Video Productions
Perisoreus canadensis
wetvideocamera
Martin's Cabin Part 6 The Finnicky Gray Jay
TheNorthwoodsman1
Gray Jay Nest Cam - Defending The Nest
LesleytheBirdNerd
Gray Jay Imitating Crow
LesleytheBirdNerd
Visitor Sightings
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Carrie Woodley
2/26/2020
Location: Montrose, MN
Julie Kadlec
2/4/2020
Location: Harris, MN
Do have a photo.
Sharon
Sundberg
2/21/2019
Location: Duluth, Mn
Ramona Abrego
2/19/2017
Location: Cook County Gunflint Trail
Hand feeding
Andy Witchger
8/4/2016
Location: Sax-Zim Bog
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
