Siberian jay

Perisoreus infaustus

Photo by Daniel Pettersson (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Siberian jay (en); gaio-siberiano (pt); mésangeai imitateur (fr); arrendajo funesto (es); unglückshäher (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Corvidae

Range:
These birds are found in northern Eurasia, from Scandinavia to eastern Russia and northern China.

Size:
The Siberian jay is 26-29 cm long and have a wingspan of 40-46 cm. They weigh 75-95 g.

Habitat:
They are mostly found in boreal forests, especially old pine forests with plenty of lichens, but can also be found in mixed temperate forests along the southern parts of their range.

Diet:

The Siberian jay is omnivorous. They hunt small mammals and birds, raid the nests of other birds for eggs, take various arthropods and will also eat carrion. They also eat various plant materials, especially blueberries.

Breeding:

They breed in March-June. Both sexes build the nest, a platform made of sticks, twigs, lichen and bark, lined with pieces of bark and feathers and placed near the ground, close to the trunk of a tree. There the female lays 3-5 greenish eggs with grey and brown spots. The female incubates the eggs alone for 19-20 days, while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 20-24 days, ys, but stay together in a brood with their mother for some weeks. Each pair raises a single clutch per year.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 2-8,5 million individuals. The population is estimated to be in decline following decreases in the southern edge of its range.