bird of the day: black- throated magpie jay

the black-throated magpie jay is a large member of the corvid family, native to mexico (with a breeding population established in california). the magpie-jay is sometimes confused with relatives like the blue jay, but is usually easily distinguishable by its tail, which is extremely long for a corvid.

magpie-jays, like others of their family, are omnivorous, and eat nuts, seeds, insects, berries, and small animals like mice.

little research has been done on the magpie-jay. they are very similar to another species, the white-throated magpie jay, and interbreed regularly (it has been suggested the black-throated magpie jay is just a subspecies of the white-throated). however, they seem fairly common in their range, and have not been determined to be threatened.

this blue jay has a strange unknown mutation that has affected the feathers on the face, crest, and neck.

this white steller’s jay was seen in boulder county, colorado. the bird is not albino – it was seen gradually gaining more and more white feathers over time. suggested causes are illness, trauma or a mutation.

source: (x)

this blue jay was spotted in nova scotia with a distinctly white head. this is due to leucism, a lack of pigmentation that can make animals appear lighter over their whole body or just certain parts, like in this bird.

source: (x)

blue jays are beautiful but other jays are too and they’re very underrated:

green jay

steller’s jay

black-throated magpie-jay

purplish jay

eurasian jay

turquoise jay

bird of the day: turquoise jay

the turquoise jay is a brightly colored member of the corvidae family, related to other jays, crows, and ravens.

little research has been done on the turquoise jay, even though they are fairly common. they are native to parts of south america, and are nonmigratory. they live in small flocks, sometimes mixing with other bird species.

the turquoise jay is rated least concern by the iucn. while not much research has been done on them, their population numbers seem to be high and they are coping with threats like habitat loss well.

this is an american crow with leucism. leucistic animals do not produce enough pigmentation, but produce enough to not be considered albino.

source: (x)

this pied common raven was spotted in mammoth lakes, california. ‘pied’ birds result from partial leucism, a lack of pigmentation in certain areas.

source: (x)

things you didn’t want to know about birds that you’re going to know now

birds urinate, defecate, and have intercourse through the same opening (the cloaca)
birds have tongue bones
some birds, like pelicans and seagulls, eat their prey whole
when threatened, some vultures vomit up their last meal
some birds keep cool using urohydrosis – defecating on their legs to cool down
some species of birds cannibalize their dead (or living)
crows have been found to participate in necrophilia
herons can generate enough force to put their beak through a skull
cassowaries have a long claw shaped more like a spear that is used for stabbing – a cassowary once killed a human this way
crows can pass on information to the next generation of crows
pigeons understand some concepts of space and time

‘pest’ birds alignment chart