jay

The common jay ranges widely over Europe to North Africa, and Asia south to Myanmar, China, and Taiwan. Living alone in forests and woodlands, it feeds on insects, spiders, snails, slugs, and also on berries, acorns, and grain.

Any of several birds belonging to the crow family, generally brightly coloured and native to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In the Eurasian common jay (Garrulus glandarius), the body is fawn with patches of white, blue, and black on the wings and tail. (Family Corvidae, order Passeriformes.)

Jays are shy and retiring in their habits, but have a screeching cry with the power to vary it by mimicking other birds. They feed chiefly on snails, insects, worms, and nuts, particularly acorns. They hide their nests in trees with thick foliage and lay about five or six eggs at a time.

The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), of the eastern and central USA, has a crest and is very noisy and bold.