Note that if you purchase something via one of our links, including Amazon, we may earn a small commission.
Found in parts of every province and territory, this small but hearty bird is known for being curious and having a very open-minded culinary tastes. Time to open your mind to these morsels of lore about this national icon.
Tough and tenacious, the Canada Jay handles winter like a boss, nesting earlier than almost any other songbird, and raising youngsters in the chilliest of weather, all across the country. Here are five facts to know about Perisoreus canadensis, the bird formerly known as the Gray Jay.
A Gray Area
The Canada jay has had several common names over the years, including the Brown Jay of Canada, the Alberta Jay, Whiskey Jack, and, for a time in the 19th century … the Canada Jay. That lasted until 1957, when the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) changed the name to the Gray Jay, citing geographical and taxonomic clarity reasons. Flash forward to 2018, when, in part because of lobbying by Canadian bird experts, the American Ornithological Society (as the AOU is now called), restored “Canada jay” as the species’ official common name — once and, presumably, for all.
Early Birds
Canada jays start building their nests in February. Brrr. But they do go to the trouble of making the baby beds cozy. A mated pair of jays works together to combine conifer twigs and vacated caterpillar cocoons for the nest’s frame, then insulates the walls using moose and deer fur, or ruffed grouse feathers. A single nest can contain as many as 400 feathers. Why make babies so early, during still-frigid weather? One theory is that it gives the youngsters, once fledged, ample time to gather food for themselves before the next winter.
Hungry as a Bird
And what does a Canada Jay eat? The better question is “What doesn’t a Canada jay eat?” These blue jay-sized birds will stuff their beaks with almost anything: insects, spiders, fungus, carrion, eggs, plus the nestlings of other birds, and small amphibians. If it’s remotely edible, they’ll attempt to eat it. They’ve even been spotted going after injured large animals. Could a 70 gram bird consume an entire moose? Maybe if it was really, really hungry.
Hide (and Hide, and Hide) and Seek
Canada Jays are known for their amazing food collecting and caching ability; their latin name means “heap up.” A single Jay might gather and stash food bits up to 1,000 times per day as it prepares for the coming winter. The birds store food in multiple hiding spots, tucking their meals into tree crevices, using their saliva as glue to anchor the snacks in place. And Canada Jays are smart enough to understand that humans equal food; this is the reason for their nickname “camp robber” (they’re fond of hanging around campsites). Hang on to your sandwich, campers: some Canada Jays are brazen enough to snatch food from your hand. Heck, they’d probably steal candy from a baby if given the opportunity.
The Strong, Silent Type
Canada Jays tend to be less vocal than other members of the corvid family (crows, Blue Jays, and ravens, for example). Their one-minute song — a series of soft notes mixed with clicks — is called the “whisper song.” But they also chatter and whistle, and can imitate the sounds of some of their predators. Ornithologists believe this mimicry could be meant to confuse the birds that are targeting them as prey: “Oops, nevermind! I thought you were someone else!.”
