Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) カケス

Eurasian Jay カケス Scientific name: Garrulus glandarius The Eurasian Jay is a colorful member of the crow family. In Japanese it is called カケス / Kakesu. It has pinkish-brown plumage, a black moustache mark, a pale crown, black-and-white wings, and a beautiful blue-and-black barred wing patch. It is much more colorful than most people expect from a corvid. In Japan, the Eurasian Jay lives mainly in forests and wooded mountain areas. It is often heard before seen, giving a harsh “jaa-jaa” or “jay-jay” call from inside the trees. It is shy and usually stays hidden in branches, but when it flies, the white rump and blue wing patch can be very noticeable. The Wild Bird Society of Japan describes it as living in forests from Yakushima northward, and it may also appear in lowlands during autumn and winter.

Eurasian Jay カケス

The Eurasian Jay is a colorful and intelligent woodland bird found in forests, mountain woods, parks, mixed woodlands, and tree-rich areas in Japan. It has warm pinkish-brown plumage, a dark moustache mark, black and white wing markings, and beautiful blue barred patches on the wings.

This bird is often shy and more easily heard than seen, giving loud harsh calls from within the trees. It feeds on acorns, seeds, fruits, insects, and small animals, and is well known for storing acorns in the ground, helping forest regeneration as forgotten seeds may later grow into trees.

Category

Jays, Corvids, Woodland Birds

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Habitat

Forests, Mountain Woods, Parks, Mixed Woodlands, Tree-rich Areas

Region

Japan, Europe, East Asia, Northern Asia

Behavior

Acorn Caching, Loud Calling, Forest Foraging, Shy Movement

Population

Common in Suitable Woodland Habitat

カケス Eurasian Jay

カケスは、日本の森林、山地の林、公園、混交林、樹木の多い場所などで 見られる、色彩豊かで知能の高いカラス科の野鳥です。淡い赤褐色の体、 黒いひげのような模様、黒白の翼の模様、そして翼にある美しい青い しま模様が特徴です。

警戒心が強く、姿を見るよりも林の中から聞こえる大きくしわがれた声で 気づくことが多い鳥です。ドングリ、種子、果実、昆虫、小動物などを食べ、 ドングリを地面に隠して貯える習性もあります。忘れられたドングリが 芽を出すこともあり、森の再生にも関わる鳥です。

Category

カラス科、カケス類、森林の鳥

IUCN Status

低危険種

Habitat

森林、山地の林、公園、混交林、樹木の多い場所

Region

日本、ヨーロッパ、東アジア、北アジア

Behavior

ドングリを貯える、大きな鳴き声、森林で採食、警戒心が強い

Population

適した森林環境では普通に見られる