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Black-chested Jay Cyanocorax affinis Scientific name definitions

Luiz dos Anjos
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2009

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Introduction

The Black-chested Jay occurs from extreme southeast Costa Rica across Panama to northern Colombia, and into northwest Venezuela. The head and throat are black, with blue spots both above and below the eyes, largely white underparts, dark violet-blue upperparts, and a white tip to the tail. The Black-chested Jay is found in a variety of forest types, both wet and dry, from sea level to at least 2600 m, and forages in small groups of up to eight, taking invertebrates, various fruits, and even the occasional small vertebrate. It may be a social breeder, but this aspect of the species’ behavior is poorly known, despite that the Black-chested Jay is reasonably common locally.

Field Identification

33–36 cm; 194–232 g. Feathers on forehead, together with nasal plumes, stiffened and forming short, more or less laterally compressed frontal crest. Male nominate race has head mostly black, with large elongated blue spot above eye, smaller (half the size) blue spot below eye, blue malar stripe; nape bright cyan-blue, often partly concealed by crown feathers; upperparts dull violet suffused with brown, especially on mantle and back, uppertail-coverts cyan-blue; upperwing bright cyan-blue, inner margins of primaries dark brown, tail also bright cyan, tips of all rectrices whitish-cream; throat and upper breast sepia, rest of underparts whitish, underwing whitish, underside of tail dusky; iris yellow or yellowish-white; bill and legs blackish. Female is similar to male, but tends to be more brownish on mantle and back. Juvenile is duller and browner than adult, wings predominantly dark purplish-brown (rather than violet-blue), malar stripe duller and less conspicuous, blue spots above and below eye absent or vestigial. Race zeledoni has underparts and tail tips more creamy than nominate, throat and upper breast tend towards black, the bright blue of nape more visible, wings and tail brighter blue, back sometimes tinged cyan-blue.

Systematics History

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies


SUBSPECIES

Cyanocorax affinis zeledoni Scientific name definitions

Distribution

extreme SE Costa Rica (Caribbean slope) and tropical and subtropical zones of Panama.

SUBSPECIES

Cyanocorax affinis affinis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

N and NE Colombia (S to R San Juan and Huila) and NW Venezuela (Zulia, Táchira, Mérida, Trujillo, W Lara and Falcón).

Distribution

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Habitat

Wide variety of seasonal forests (wet and dry), from sea-level to 2600 m, usually in foothills; avoids interior of dense continuous forest. Recorded in clearings along rivers and at borders of dense secondary growth at fringes of cultivation (cocoa and banana plantations).

Movement

Sedentary.

Diet and Foraging

Diet includes various fruits, berries, also invertebrates, also occasional small lizard or frog. Forages in flocks of 3–8 individuals, at all levels of forest, also on ground; move through trees or on ground by long and agile hops. Normally keeps well hidden in foliage; not giving to flying over open spaces. Often attends trail of army ants (Formicidae) to feed on disturbed insects.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Repertoire quite varied, of harsh, squeaky and metallic short notes. Social call transcribed as "peeeoh", which may grade into "cheoo!"; chatter call (social alarm call) a sequence of notes as "pyou-pyou-pyou" or "kyoop-kyoop-kyoop". Full-grown juveniles emit "jeeer". Loud and ringing "cho! cho!" and "chowng-chowng" also mentioned.

Breeding

Recorded between Jan and May. Possibly a social breeder. Nest bulky, of sticks and twigs, lined with finer twigs and plant fibres, built towards end of branch or in upright fork in small tree; one nest in isolated small tree was covered by creeping spiny palms. Clutch 3–5 eggs. No other information.
Not globally threatened. Relatively uncommon to locally common in Venezuela and Colombia; rather local in Panama and Costa Rica.
Distribution of the Black-chested Jay - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Black-chested Jay

Recommended Citation

dos Anjos, L. (2020). Black-chested Jay (Cyanocorax affinis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.blcjay1.01
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