White-tailed jay

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White-tailed jay
White-tailed jay vocalization

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Cyanocorax
Species:
C. mystacalis
Binomial name
Cyanocorax mystacalis
(L. E. G. de Sparre, 1835)
Map of South America showing the year-round range of the white-tailed jay
  Range (year-round)

The white-tailed jay (Cyanocorax mystacalis), also known as the moustached jay, is a species of

retrices and tail tip are white. It has several calls
, the most common being described as "cha-cha-cha-cha".

The white-tailed jay was first described by the French ornithologist Louis Ernest Gustave de Sparre [de] in 1835 and was given the scientific name Pica mystacalis. It was later placed in the genus Cyanocorax. It is visually very similar to the tufted jay, which found in Mexico over 4,800 km (3,000 mi) away, and the two species were incorrectly thought to be close relatives. The white-tailed jay's relationship to others in the genus Cyanocorax is still unclear.

The white-tailed jay lives in semi-humid, semi-open woodlands, preferring to remain near thick vegetation close to rivers and streams. It eats mostly insects and seeds, but has also been known to

least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, although its population has seen notable decreases in some regions. The largest threat to its survival is habitat destruction
.

Taxonomy and systematics

See caption
A drawing of the white-tailed jay done by de Sparre

The white-tailed jay, also known as the moustached jay,[2] was first described in 1835 by the French ornithologist Louis Ernest Gustave de Sparre [de], who placed it in the genus Pica with the scientific name Pica mystacalis.[3] It is now placed in the genus Cyanocorax, which was introduced by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1826.[4][5] The white-tailed jay has no recognized subspecies.[5]

The white-tailed jay is visually similar to the

common ancestor between the species, others proposed that the two might be the same species, and that the tufted jay had been brought to Mexico by pre-Columbian trade.[7] In 2010, a mitochondrial DNA study of the genus Cyanocorax proved that the white-tailed jay was a distinct species from the tufted jay, and although they descend from a common ancestor, they are not particularly closely related. This study also demonstrated that the white-tailed jay was monophyletic, although its exact position in relation to others in the genus was ambiguous.[8]

The following cladogram (simplified from the 2010 mitochondrial DNA study) shows the relationship between species in the genus Cyanocorax.[9]

Inca jay (C. yncas)

White-tailed jay (C. mystacalis)

Cayenne jay (C. cayanus)

Plush-crested jay (C. chrysops)

White-naped jay (C. cyanopogon)

Azure-naped jay (C. heilprini)

Black-chested jay (C. affinis)

Tufted jay (C. dickeyi)

Bushy-crested jay (C. melanocyaneus)

Yucatan jay (C. yucatanicus)

San Blas jay (C. sanblasianus)

Purplish-backed jay (C. beecheii)

Description

A white-tailed jay with white spots above and below eyes and a purplish blue back
An adult white-tailed jay

The white-tailed jay is overall white and bluish, with a black head. Its face is mostly black, with a small white spot above the eye, a small white

retrices, tail tip, and underside of the tail are white. It has bright yellow irises.[10] There are no visual differences between the sexes.[11] Juveniles have brown irises and lack both the white spot above the eye and the moustachial stripe. These features last until the first moult.[10]

The white-tailed jay is roughly 33 cm (13 in) in length.[10] One individual measured had a wing length of 146 mm (5.7 in), a 147 mm (5.8 in) tail, 40 mm (1.6 in) tarsi, and a 40 mm (1.6 in) beak.[12] Weight measurements come from a single pair, with the male weighing 160 g (5.6 oz) and the female weighing 149 g (5.3 oz).[10]

Little is known of the vocalizations of the white-tailed jay. Their most common call is described as "cha-cha-cha-cha", varying in pitch throughout. It is thought that this may be used socially. They also make a high-pitched "clewp-clewp" call.[10] The white-tailed jay has fewer vocalizations than other species in its genus. This is likely because of its habitat, as it prefers open areas where visual communication is more useful.[13]

The white-tailed jay is unique within its range, with no other species being visually similar. It is visually very similar to the tufted jay but their ranges do not overlap. Additionally, compared to the tufted jay, the white-tailed jay lacks a crest, has white on its outer wings, and less white on its tail.[14]

Distribution and habitat

The white-tailed jay is non-migratory and can be found from northwestern Peru to southwestern Ecuador. In Ecuador, it ranges as far north as the province of Guayas, down through El Oro and Loja. In Peru, it can be found as far south as La Libertad.[10] It lives in several different types of semi-humid, semi-open woodlands throughout its range, such as mesquite woodlands and cactus steppe. Within these areas, it prefers to remain near thick patches of vegetation close to rivers and streams. In parts of Ecuador, it can be seen in cloud forests at higher elevations.[10][14] It can be found from sea level up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft).[1]

Behaviour and ecology

Feeding on papaya in Ecuador

Diet and feeding

The white-tailed jay feeds on insects, such as beetles and ants, and on seeds. It is also known to feed on eggs from other birds. It will approach human settlements and steal eggs from domestic ducks and chickens, and one pair has been observed raiding the nest of a pale-legged hornero.[10] It also steals eggs from the endangered Peruvian plantcutter.[15]

The white-tailed jay

bicoloured hawk.[16]

Breeding and nesting

Little is known about the breeding and nesting habits of the white-tailed jay. Adults have been observed carrying nesting material in February and March, and nests have been seen being built in tall trees close to villages. Breeding pairs likely nest alone, away from other white-tailed jays.[10] Eggs are buff-coloured and heavily covered with brown, grey, and black spots.[2]

Conservation and status

The white-tailed jay is considered a species of

least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While its exact population is unknown, it is fairly common within its range, although the population is believed to be decreasing.[1] Certain regions have seen a notable decrease in population, such as the Loja Province in Ecuador. Because of the white-tailed jay's relatively restricted range, the primary threat to its survival is habitat destruction.[10] There are currently no conservation plans in place for the white-tailed jay; however, it does occur within the Tumbesian region Endemic Bird Area and has been observed breeding there.[1][17]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d BirdLife International (2016).
  2. ^ a b Goodwin & Gillmor (1976), p. 300.
  3. ^ de Sparre (1832–1873), Plate 34.
  4. ^ Boie (1826), Col 975.
  5. ^ a b Gill, Donsker & Rasmussen (2021).
  6. ^ Moore (1935), p. 275.
  7. ^ Haemig (1979), p. 81.
  8. ^ Bonaccorso et al. (2010), pp. 904.
  9. ^ Bonaccorso et al. (2010), pp. 902.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k dos Anjos (2020).
  11. ^ Walther & Clayton (2005), p. 90.
  12. ^ Madge & Burn (1994), p. 90.
  13. ^ Hardy (1969), pp. 364, 371.
  14. ^ a b Goodwin & Gillmor (1976), pp. 299–300.
  15. ^ Nolazco & Roper (2014), p. 126.
  16. ^ Barrio, Garcia-Olaechea & More (2015), p. 15.
  17. ^ Bonaccorso et al. (2007), p. 64.

References

External links


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