Naked jays
| Naked jays | ||||||||||||
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Naked jay ( Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Gymnorhinus | ||||||||||||
| Wied-Neuwied , 1841 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus | ||||||||||||
| Wied-Neuwied, 1841 |
The pinyon jay ( Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus ) is a bird from the family of corvids (Corvidae). He is the only representative of the genus Gymnorhinus .
distribution
The distribution area is in the mountain forests in western North America . From Oregon and Montana to the north of Baja California and Arizona and east to the west of Oklahoma . They are often found in large groups near pines , especially during the breeding season .
features
The gregarious bare-billed jay has blue-gray plumage, a short tail, a pointed black beak, and black legs and feet. The plumage on the throat is white. The sexes are similar in plumage color. The male has a slightly longer beak than the female, and the plumage on the head is darker. The wings are relatively long in relation to the body.
nutrition
It feeds mainly on seeds of the single-leaved ( Pinus monophylla ) and Colorado pine ( Pinus edulis ), further on insects , nuts , fruits and berries . With its sharp beak it opens the pine cones and picks up the seeds. In times of need, especially in winter, many seeds are hidden in the ground.
Reproduction
The shell-shaped nest, with two to five eggs, is mainly built around pines or oaks . The eggs are hatched over a period of 16 to 18 days. The young fledged after three weeks.
literature
- The Pinyon Jay: Behavioral Ecology of a Colonial and Cooperative Corvid by John M. Marzluff , Russell P. Balda, 1992 - ISBN 0-85661-064-X
Web links
- Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed January 31 of 2009.