The jay (Garrulus glandarius) is a medium-sized bird from the crow family. It measures 32 to 35 cm in length, and its wingspan ranges from 54 to 58 cm. Because of its distinctive pattern and plumage coloration, the jay cannot be confused with any other species. On the ventral and dorsal sides, shoulders, nape and cheeks it is pinkish gray-brown, which behind the legs and on the throat transitions to dirty white. The white top of the head is adorned with black lines, behind the stout black beak there are crow-black 'moustaches'. It has a long black tail and a snow-white tail-tip. The inner part of the wing is black and white, the outer part is dark gray. The most beautiful and also the most distinctive part of the wing is the wonderfully light and dark blue, striped plumage.
The jay, despite its size and strength, is a cautious, distrustful and shy bird that is hard to approach. Most often we will hear it screeching or we will observe it fluttering with broad wings as it flies to a safe distance. It is a loud bird and, when a group of jays spots an owl, goshawk or weasel, can cause quite a racket. It does not forget to warn other forest inhabitants of our arrival. Its habitat is forests, both deciduous and coniferous, and it also nests in large parks with trees. In our country it is common and can be observed in all seasons, it nests in spring, in April and May. It builds a nest from twigs on a fork in a branch or tree and lines it with grass, roots and hair.
The jay is a day-active bird and a typical omnivore. Especially in the warm part of the year it fattens on food of animal origin, for example larger invertebrates, but it also searches for eggs and chicks of other birds. In winter a larger part of its diet consists of seeds, for example acorns from oaks, beech mast and hornbeam seeds. It prefers oak forests, as in winter acorns are its favorite food, which it stores in different places for winter. Because in spring the acorns in caches that it cannot retrieve sprout, the jay plays an important role in the spread of oaks and oak forests.
