English              -             Azure Jay

Portuguese      -             Gralha-azul

Latin                 -              Cyanocorax caeruleus

The Azure Jay is a passeriform bird of the crow family, Corvidae. They are the state bird of Parana, in the south of Brazil. Like others in the corvidae family, Azure Jays are highly intelligent.       

The Azure Jay is the largest South American corvid. Its plumage is intensely blue with a contrasting black head and upper chest. Males and females are similar in appearance, although the females are normally smaller in size.  An Adult has a total length of approximately 40cm and weighs about 270g. The legs and bill are black and the eyes are dark red. Their communication is complex, consisting of at least 14 distinct vocalisations. They tend to live in small groups of 6 to 8 individuals.

The Azure Jay is found in south-eastern Brazil, far eastern Paraguay and far north-eastern Argentina. Their range stretches from the south of the state of Rio de Janeiro down to the State of Rio Grande do Sul. They do prefer the habitat of forest edges especially in pine forests. They also inhabit some off shore Islands in the Bay of Paranaguá (Paraná coast). The highest concentration though is found in the Atlantic forest.       

The Azure Jay is omnivorous and even though it feeds extensively on the nut-like seeds of the Parana Pine tree, it is not strictly limited to it, since it also feeds on insects and fruit. It has also been known to take eggs and nestlings from other birds.

Breeding season for the Azure Jay is from October to January. The nest is a flat cup and is composed of twigs, lined with flexible roots. The nests are approx. 18 cm in diameter and are normally high up in trees. Favoured nest sites are in the Parana Pine tree. This bird is a social breeder. The female Azure Jay lays 2–4 eggs The eggs are greenish blue in colour, with grey / brown spots. The spots are concentrated around the larger end of the egg. There is no data on incubation, parental behaviour or fledging of the Azure Jay nestlings.

Due to the continuing destruction of its habitat, the forest-dwelling Azure Jay is likely to be declining quite rapidly throughout its range. It is becoming very rare in the west of its range and is therefore considered a “Near Threatened” species due to habitat loss and deforestation.                

The photo of the Azure Jay was taken at Parque Das Aves - Foz do Iguacu - Parana