Siberian Jay

How to recognise it

• Fluffy grey-brown plumage with a brownish-black crown and rusty-red rump and tail sides
• Rusty-red wing bends on the upperside, clearest in flight
• Small, fairly short black bill with a little buff tuft at the forehead
• Sexes alike, but the female is slightly smaller and young birds have a browner back

Call and song

The Siberian Jay is mostly quiet but has a wide repertoire. Sometimes a short mewing "geä", a rising "kui" and a slightly thinner "kiij" are heard. When agitated it gives a loud "krääh" or "gäääh", like the Jay's but weaker. The song is soft and can only be heard within about 20 metres.

Where and when

The Siberian Jay is resident and occurs from northern Värmland and Dalarna up to the Finnish border, most densely in the inland of northern Norrland. Along the Norrland coast it is very rare. It is reported most in February and from September to November, and its share of all bird reports is highest in Norrbotten and Jämtland. It is red-listed as Near Threatened (NT).

Food and behaviour

The Siberian Jay is omnivorous and eats mostly berries, especially bilberries, as well as small mammals, insects, nestlings and fungi. From July until the first snow it stores food in many different places for the winter. It lives in small flocks of 2 to 7 birds, is fearless and can be fed by hand. In the branches it clambers up and down like a large tit.