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Woodland
Jay
Garrulus glandarius
The most colourful of the crow family: pinkish brown, with a bright blue patch on each wing.
- Size
- About 34cm long
- Look for it
- All year round
- Where
- Woods with oak trees, parks and large gardens
My spotter's list
Hops and flies after you, flashing its blue wing patches. Move your pointer and see.
Good to know
Six things about the jay
AcornsPlanting oak trees
A single jay can bury several thousand acorns in one autumn. The ones it never comes back for grow into oak trees.
WingsA flash of blue
Look for the bright blue patch on the wing, barred with black, and the white rump as it flies away.
VoiceA harsh screech
Jays are shy, and you'll often hear their loud, rasping screech before you see them.
MimicA good mimic
Jays can copy the calls of other birds, including the mewing call of a buzzard.
CrowsA colourful crow
Jays belong to the crow family, along with magpies, rooks and ravens.
MemoryA good memory
A jay remembers where it buried its acorns and digs them up through the winter, even under snow.
The real thing
Photos of the jay
Out and aboutHow to spot one
Listen for a harsh, tearing screech in the trees. In October, watch oak trees and open lawns for jays flying to and fro with acorns.
Lend a handHow to help
Plant an oak, or simply leave the acorns where they fall. A quiet corner with peanuts on the ground may tempt one into a garden.
Following youLadybird
Who should follow you?
Bees and hoverflies
Butterflies and moths
Dragonflies and damselflies
Beetles, hoppers and ants
Not insects at all
Snails and spiders aren't insects: a snail is a mollusc, and spiders have eight legs.
Garden birds
Pond animals live on the Pond page: choosing one takes you there.
Pond life
Night garden
Seashore animals live on the Seashore page: choosing one takes you there.
Rock pool life
Woodland animals
Under a log
Meadow life
River animals live on the River page: choosing one takes you there.
River life
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