Azure-hooded Jay
Cyanolyca cucullata
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyCorvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
- GenusCyanolyca (Highland Jays)
- SpeciesCyanolyca cucullata (Azure-hooded Jay)
About the Azure-hooded Jay
The azure-hooded jay (Cyanolyca cucullata) is a species of bird in the family Corvidae. It is found in Middle America. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. This species is known to have four subspecies. It is 11 to 12 inches (28 to 30 cm) in length and is dark blue with a black head and upper chest. The back of the head and neck are sky blue with a white border.
The jays travel in groups of two to ten individuals and may join mixed-species flocks. It is a secretive species and therefore difficult to observe in the wild. As an omnivore, this jay eats berries, seeds, and small, dead animals. Females lay three to four eggs, and the young fledge after twenty days. This species is listed as Least Concern, meaning it is not threatened with extinction.
The species was first described by the American ornithologist Robert Ridgway in 1885. Its specific epithet, cucullata, is the Latin word for "hooded". Its closest relative is the beautiful jay (C. pulchra) of Colombia and Ecuador; in his 1934 study, Hellmayr treated these species as conspecific. Phylogenetic analysis published in 2009 confirmed the close relationship between the two species; Bonaccorso... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Azure-hooded Jay in Arenal Volcano National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Arenal Volcano National Park
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cusuco National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 2 | Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Arenal Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 5 | Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 6 | Braulio Carrillo National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 7 | Celaque National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 8 | Poás Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Azure-hooded Jay in Arenal Volcano National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Azure-hooded Jay sighting in Arenal Volcano National Park, based on 263 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Azure-hooded Jay in Arenal Volcano National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Azure-hooded Jay in Arenal Volcano National Park in our monthly data.