Cyanocorax formosus
The White-throated Magpie-Jay, *Cyanocorax formosus*, is a strikingly elegant and vocal member of the Corvidae family, instantly recognizable by its long, graduated tail and vibrant plumage. Measuring an impressive 43 to 56 cm (17-22 inches) in length and weighing around 180-250 grams, this jayan boasts a vivid royal blue body contrasting sharply with a black head, chest, and a distinct bright white throat and collar. Its most prominent field marks include a short, spiky crest on the forehead...
Primarily found in dry deciduous and semi-deciduous forests, thorn scrub, and forest edges, typically at elevations from sea level up to 1500 meters (4900 feet).
Omnivorous, consisting primarily of large insects (grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars), fruits, seeds, small reptiles, nestlings, and eggs, foraged from trees and the ground.
White-throated Magpie-Jays are highly social birds, often observed in noisy family groups of 3-10 individuals, or occasionally larger, more transient flocks. They are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging and interacting, and roost communally in dense vegetation or tall trees at night. T...
The White-throated Magpie-Jay is a resident species, with its distribution centered along the Pacific slope of Central America, from southern Mexico south through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northwestern Costa Rica. Its range is generally continuous within these countries, fa...
Least Concern
- The White-throated Magpie-Jay is renowned for its intelligence, a hallmark of the corvid family, displaying complex social interactions and problem-solving abilities. - They are cooperative breeders, meaning that non-breeding adult "helpers," often offspring from previous seasons, assist the br...