Eurasian Jay

A common bird across much of Europe and Asia,from the near Arctic and Himalayan foothills to the tropical forests of Myanmar and Thailand,the Eurasian Jay in one area may be quite different in colours and patterns to another.There are more than 30 subspecies in a wide range of colours  and with either black or streaked crowns.However, all the subspecies have a blue patch on their forewing. A shy bird,the Eurasian Jay is almost always seen flying away, when the white patches on its otherwise black hind wings and white rump, contrasting with the black tail, make it easy to identify. Like other jays, it is an omnivorous opportunist and dependent for its winter survival on the success of the acorn crop.In years and in areas where acorns fail,it can spread out from its normal home range in search of better supplies. When acorns are plentiful,it stores then by burying them. It has good memory,usually remembering where the buried acorns are.However it often does not return to its food store,thereby playing an important role in the regeneration of oak forests.