Cyanocorax mystacalis
The White-tailed Jay (*Cyanocorax mystacalis*) is a strikingly handsome corvid, immediately recognizable by its pristine white tail and prominent white "mustache" stripes contrasting sharply against a glossy black head. This medium-sized jay measures approximately 33-35 cm (13-14 inches) in length and weighs around 160-180 grams, featuring an iridescent cobalt-blue body plumage that shifts to a darker indigo on the wings and back. Its most distinctive field marks are indeed the pure white und...
This species primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid scrublands, dry deciduous forests, and thorny woodlands within inter-Andean valleys, typically found at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,500 meters.
The White-tailed Jay has an omnivorous diet, primarily consuming a wide variety of insects, spiders, fruits, and seeds, occasionally preying on small vertebrates and bird eggs. They forage by gleaning from foliage, probing bark, and foraging on the ground.
White-tailed Jays are highly social and diurnal, often observed in noisy family groups or larger flocks of up to 20 individuals, which roost communally in dense thorny trees at night. Their foraging strategies are omnivorous and opportunistic; they actively glean insects from foliage, probe bark ...
The White-tailed Jay is endemic to the arid and semi-arid inter-Andean valleys of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Its distribution is quite restricted, primarily following the dry river valleys and foothills of the Andes mountain range. In Ecuador, its range extends from southern Loja...
Least Concern
- The White-tailed Jay's distinctive white "mustache" is a unique facial marking not commonly seen in other corvid species. - They are highly social birds, often living in family groups of up to 10-20 individuals that cooperate in raising young. - Unlike many bird species, White-tailed Jays exhib...