Jay Garrulus glandarius   [Linnaeus, 1758]

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   Page updated:16-January-2013

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae
BTO Codes: J., JAY.. EURING No: 15390
Number in Britain: 160 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: GREEN
European: Not a species of concern
Global: (Details)
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
Status in UK: (A)  Resident Breeder, Winter Visitor
Subspecies: rufitergum (R), glandarius (S), hibernicus recorded in Britain (of 35 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 34 cm Wingspan: 55 cm Weight: M/F: 170 g    
Scientific name from: L.: garrulus=chattering and L.: glandarius=producing acorns (from glandis=acorn)
World Distribution: Europe, Asia, nw Africa
Habitat: Forest, woodland, towns
Diet: Invertebrates (esp beetles, caterpillars) fruit and seeds (esp acorns which are cached)

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: BirdTrends   
Regional Trends: Wales   England   English Regions
Distribution: Atlas Maps    BBS Maps
Abundance Maps: Population Density   Change in Density   Guide to Interpretation
British Population Size:
    Summer: 160 thousand territories in 2000
    First Record: Recorded in Medieval times [Fossil evidence from Middle Pleistocene, c. 500,000 yr ago]
    Latest Survey: Gregory, R.D. & Marchant, J.H. (1996) Bird Study 43:28-37
    Conservation Status: GREEN
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 GREEN     1996-2001 GREEN  
   Races of Concern: rufitergum AMBER (Important Population), glandarius GREEN
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    Most frequent in: Deciduous Wood
    And found in: Scrub, Coniferous Wood
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
    Summer: 4.8 to 10.5 million pairs   (Trend in Numbers)
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe mapped by the EBCC Atlas
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WCA(III), WBD(II*)
Survey Results: Results from BirdTrack
Results from Garden BirdWatch

Breeding and Survival

Egg Size: 31 x 23 mm Egg Weight: 8.5 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 26   (more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size: 4 - 5 eggs 4.59 ± 0.95 (2 - 7) N = 240
Incubation: 18- 18 days 17.74 ± 1.03 (16 - 19.5) N = 240   by the: Male + Female
Fledging: 20 - 23days 21.58 ± 2.23 (18 - 25) N = 333 as: Altricial, naked
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid: 31 Mar (1 Mar - 30 Apr)
Number of Broods: 1
See trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed: Annual Totals
Adult Survival: 0.590       
Juvenile Survival: 0.600 (in First-Year)  
Age at First Breeding: 2 years Typical Lifespan: 4 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 16 years 9 months 19 days (set in 1983)
Read a summary of Ringing Recoveries

Biometrics

Ring Size: D (pulli E)
Wing Length Adult: 181.2 ± 6.2     Range 103.0 - 217.0 mm, (N = 1404)
Juvenile: 178.3 ± 6.6     Range 118.0 - 203.0 mm, (N = 1678)
Male: 184.8 ± 6.8     Range 157.0 - 203.0 mm, (N = 152)
Female: 179.7 ± 5.9     Range 156.0 - 200.0 mm, (N = 285)
Weight Adult: 167.8 ± 13.99 Range 114.0 - 220.0 g , (N =1113)
Juvenile: 162.8 ± 14.6 Range 111.0 - 210.0 . , (N =1458)
Male: 171.1 ± 14.33 Range 128.0 - 220.0 g , (N =116)
Female: 165.3 ± 14.23 Range 120.0 - 201.0 g , (N =234)
Seasonal: Summer 166.6 ± 13.21 (N = 1499)   Autumn 169.8 ± 13.41 (N = 605)   Winter 170.2 ± 13.47 (N = 920)  
Source: British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names

Eurasian Jay
Gaelic: Sgreuchag-choille Welsh: Ysgrech y Coed
Danish: Skovskade Dutch: Vlaamse gaai
Finnish: Närhi French: Geai des chênes
German: Eichelhäher Hungarian: Szajkó
Icelandic: Skrækskaði Irish: Scréachóg
Italian: Ghiandaia Norwegian: Nøtteskrike
Polish: Sójka zwyczajna Portuguese: Gaio-comum
Spanish: Arrendajo común Swedish: Nötskrika
Local Names:Acorn Jay
Collective Noun:Party

For More Information...

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BirdLife species page
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Read State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead