Garrulus lidthi
The Lidth's Jay, Garrulus lidthi, is a striking member of the corvid family, endemic to Japan's Amami Islands. Averaging 38 cm (15 inches) in length and weighing around 190g, its plumage is a breathtaking display of deep indigo-blue on the head, nape, and flight feathers, contrasting sharply with a rich rufous-maroon body and a vibrant violet-blue tail. Distinctive field marks include a small white patch on the wing and fine black barring on some primary feathers, making it unmistakable withi...
Found exclusively in subtropical broadleaf evergreen forests, preferring mature forests with a dense understory. Typically inhabits low to mid-elevation mountainous regions.
Primarily omnivorous, with a diet heavily reliant on acorns and nuts, supplemented by large insects, fruits, berries, and occasionally small vertebrates. Forages by gleaning, probing, and caching.
Lidth's Jays are diurnal and largely arboreal, spending most of their time foraging in the canopy or mid-story, though they will descend to the forest floor. They are omnivorous, employing various foraging strategies, including gleaning insects from foliage and bark, probing into crevices, and bu...
The Lidth's Jay is strictly endemic to a small archipelago in southern Japan, primarily inhabiting the islands of Amami-Ōshima, Tokunoshima, Kakeromajima, Ukejima, and Edatekujima. This highly restricted geographic distribution makes it one of the most geographically constrained corvid species gl...
Vulnerable
- Lidth's Jay is one of the most vividly colored corvids in the world, with its striking indigo and maroon plumage making it a true spectacle. - Despite its vibrant appearance, it is remarkably shy and often difficult to observe in its dense forest habitat. - Its scientific name, Garrulus lidthi,...