Azure-naped Jay
Cyanocorax heilprini
Large blue-gray jay with a black face and piercing yellow eyes. Note the white-tipped tail. Found at forest edges, in wooded savanna, in second growth, and in white sand forests, avoiding the interior of humid forests. The “Campina Jay” subspecies of southern Amazonia, considered a species by some authorities, has a pale azure rather than dark purplish-blue breast, a paler uppertail, and two bare blue skin patches around the eye. The call is a loud, harsh “jeer,” similar to the call of Violaceous Jay.
Identification
The back is dark brown, as are the upper sides of the wings and tail. The rear crown and nape are bright lavender blue. The front and sides of the head are black, with the feathers of the forecrown and forehead curled up and forwards in a short bushy crest. From the chin to the centre of the breast the bird is dark violaceous-grey. The lower breast and belly are violaceous, fading to white on the lower belly and vent. The eyes are pale to yellowish-white and the bill, feet and legs are black.
Taxonomy
The Azure-naped jay was first described by Alan F. Gentry based on a single specimen, marked as a male, from the T. B. Wilson Collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.<p>The genus Cyanocorax comes from the Ancient Greek kuanos (dark blue) and korax (raven). The species epithet heilprini honours Gentry's friend, Professor Angelo Heilprin.There are two identified subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Cyanocorax heilprini
- Authority
- Gentry, 1885
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corvidae
- Genus
- Cyanocorax
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
These birds are found in noisy groups that travel slowly, foraging at all levels. They are wary of observers and will utter alarm cries, taking turns to observe an intruder before moving on, or simply disappear into surrounding vegetation.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Bahama Warbler
Setophaga flavescens
This charming species is fond of pine woods where it is often found creeping along branches and trunks in a manner similar to that of the Black-and-white Warbler. Also visits flowers. The very similar Yellow-throated Warbler has less extensive yellow on both belly and face as well as a thicker eyeline, more distinctive white patch behind the cheek, and shorter bill. Song is a sweet “chutty, chutty, chutty, swee, swee, tsoo, tsoo.” Call is a single high “chip” or “tsit” like that of a Yellow-throated Warbler.
Red-cowled Cardinal
Paroaria dominicana
A conspicuous inhabitant of woodland in the Brazilian caatinga, but it is also found in scrubby areas and urban parks where it forages on the ground in pairs or small groups. Note the red head and throat, mostly gray back, black wings, and black tail that is white below. Immatures have a duller orange head. The song is a series of fast melodic whistles.
Rufous-crowned Bee-eater
Merops americanus
A medium-sized, long-tailed bee-eater of open areas. Pale green below with deep green wings; pale blue above and below the base of the tail and below the black mask on the face. Tail turquoise, with extended central tail feathers. Similar in shape and size to Blue-tailed Bee-eater, but Rufous-crowned has the obvious rufous crown and back and lacks the rufous band across the lower throat. Voice is a double-noted “killit,” repeated regularly.
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