Violaceous jay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Violaceous jay |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Cyanocorax
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| Species: |
violaceus
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| Approximate distribution map
Year-round |
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The violaceous jay (scientific name: Cyanocorax violaceus) is a beautiful bird that belongs to the Corvidae family. This family includes crows, jays, and magpies. You can find this bird in several South American countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.
These jays usually live in warm, wet forests near sea level. They prefer areas with lots of trees, even if the forest has been changed by people. Sometimes, they can be found in higher places, up to 1,400 meters (about 4,600 feet) above sea level.
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About the Violaceous Jay
The violaceous jay is a medium-sized bird. It has pretty dull violet-blue feathers and a dark face and throat that really stand out. It can grow to be about 33 to 38 centimeters (13 to 15 inches) long. An adult violaceous jay usually weighs around 262 grams (about 9 ounces).
Sometimes, people might confuse it with other jays. For example, the purplish jay looks a bit duller and has a different color on its neck. The azure-naped jay has light-colored eyes and a white tip on its tail, which helps tell it apart.
What Violaceous Jays Eat and Do
The violaceous jay is an omnivorous bird, meaning it eats both plants and animals. Its main foods are fruits, insects, and the eggs of other birds and reptiles. They are also known to eat small lizards.
These jays often look for food high up in the trees, usually above 18 meters (about 60 feet) from the ground. They move along branches and pick up food items. Violaceous jays usually search for food in groups. They don't stay in one place for very long.
These groups of jays can be quite noisy. However, like other jays, they can also be very quiet and hard to spot when they want to be. They are known to team up and chase away animals that might be a danger to them, like predators.
Where Violaceous Jays Live
The violaceous jay lives in the western and southwestern parts of the Amazon Basin. This huge area includes parts of northern Bolivia, eastern Peru and Ecuador, and Amazonian Colombia. They also live in the Orinoco River Basin and further north into Venezuela.
Most of their home is to the east of the Andes mountains. However, in northern Colombia and Venezuela, their range extends beyond the Andes. In Brazil, you can find them in the states of Roraima, Amazonas, and Acre, which are in the western part of the country.
See also
In Spanish: Chara violácea para niños
