Gray Jay

Perisoreus canadensis

Gray Jay. Photo:Helen Sarakinos

The gray jay is the blue jay's northerly cousin, inhabiting mainly spruce bogs of Canada's vast boreal forest. The gray jay is unusual among boreal birds, in that it is a year-round resident. Its trick to surviving the long winters is food storage; much of the summer is spent procuring food which is eventually used for winter survival. The gray jay rolls its food into sticky balls with saliva, and hides the balls in caches throughout its territory. The gray jay is also a very trusting bird. In the boreal forest, this species commonly visits winter campsites, and will often take food right out of your hand!

Distribution of Gray Jay in Canada