the plush-crested jay is a medium-sized member of the corvid family found in south america. named for their distinctive crest, other identifying features of this jay are bright yellow eyes and a distinctive purple-blue back. these jays feed off of mainly fruit and insects and reside in the rainforest.
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researchers discovered that ravens use gestures to grab each other’s attention. referential gestures, like pointing, are common with humans and apes, but not often associated with non-primates. ravens were found grabbing and offering non-food items like moss, sticks, and rocks with their beaks to other ravens to grab their attention.
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researchers at the university of cambridge have found that eurasian jays, a member of the corvid family, may show empathy, and cater to their partners’ needs. researchers fed a female jay where her partner could see her. there were two bugs that were fed: mealworms and waxworms. researchers fed only one kind. after receiving many, the jays wanted the other option. when the males were allowed to feed the female, they gave her the bug she had not been fed. when researchers fed the females out of sight, the jays did not know which was preferred and fed both bugs to their mate equally.
the violaceous jay is an unusually colored member of the corvid family. native to forests of south america, the violaceous jay has a black ‘hood’ and neck, with violet coloration on the wings and back and a lighter purple chest. these jays live in typically noisy flocks and forage for fruits, insects, eggs, and small lizards.
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the purplish-backed jay is a large member of the corvid family, native to northwestern mexico. this jay has a large beak and somewhat resembles its crow relatives. the purplish-backed jay is distinctly colored, with yellow legs, purple wings, tail and back, and black elsewhere (juveniles have yellow beaks). they live in small groups consisting of parents and their offspring in dry, deciduous forests.
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the azure jay is a large, bright blue jay native to a small range in south america. they are south america’s largest corvid, and like other corvids (jays, crows, ravens, and magpies), they are known for their intelligence and complex social structures. azure jays mainly feed on the seeds of the araucaria tree, but opportunistically feed on other seeds, fruits, and insects.
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the house crow is a medium-sized crow that is native to asia, but has introduced populations throughout the world. the house crow’s neck and chest are grayish-brown, the shade varying based on location. like other crows, house crows are omnivores and opportunistically feed on small animals, human scraps, and insects.
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a leucistic house crow, native to asia, perches on a ledge. while it was once believed that parent crows kicked white offspring out of the nest, that myth has been found to not be true – while abnormally colored crows may face social rejection, that usually happens once they have left the nest. leucistic crows do face other problems – they are easier targets for predators, and typically have weaker eyesight and feathers.
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the thick billed raven is a large corvid endemic to africa. thick-billed ravens are easily distinguished from other ravens by their massive beaks. like other ravens, they are opportunistic feeders, and will eat on carrion, small animals, insects, and more. they are considered by some to be the heaviest passerine in the world.
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the rook is a large species of crow native to europe and asia, with an established introduced population in new zealand. rooks are distinct from other crows by the bare facial patch surrounding their beak. rooks are known for their intelligence, and in captivity have displayed several forms of tool use and a basic grasp of gravity.
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today's bird 