The plush-crested jay, scientifically known as Cyanocorax chrysops, is a graceful medium-sized bird characterized by its black underparts, chin, throat, neck sides, and breаst. The remainder of the undersides range from slightly yellowish to creamy-white. The undertail has rectrices and bases that range from creamy to pale yellowish, and they are graduated. The velvet-like crest he develops on his head is the result of a transition from stiff feathers to softer feathers on the crown.
A brilliant ultramarine crescent sits above his black forehead, crown, and sides of the head. Another spot of a similar hue is located behind the eye, and it combines with a cyan-blue malar stripe to form a V. Pure ultramarine transitions to a pale ultramarine at the nape and continues down the neck. Black legs and feet contrast with yellow eyes and a black bill.
The juvenile bird’s face pattern doesn’t emerge until after the first month, and its nape is duller throughout that time. Southwestern Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina are the locations of these birds in central-southern South America.
The Burgundy-crowned From the normal lowland evergreen forest to tropical deciduous forests and temperate rainforests, jays are common in forested areas and woods. Although it is more common at elevations up to 1500 meters, it has been observed as high as 2800 meters in Bolivia.
The Burgundy-crowned Jays get the majority of their nutrition from insects and other tiny invertebrates. Fruits from many plant species, including Ficus and Phylodendrum, Casearia and Syagros, Psidium and Rapanea, will be consumed by them. When given the opportunity, they will also consume bird eggs and nestlings, frogs, seeds, and corn.
During mating season, these birds will occasionally work together, bringing back two or three chicks from the previous year to assist with the process of building the nest and defending their territory. Nests are constructed in dense vegetation at an altitude of 4 to 7 meters using twigs, smaller twigs, and plant fibers in a cup-shaped design. There are 2–4 speckled eggs put within, and they spend 18–20 days incubating. Chicks fledge 22–24 days after hatching, and her mate provides food.
While deforestation is bad for the Plush-crested Jay, it’s good news that this species can survive in isolated forest areas of 10-20 hectares, provided that larger woods aren’t too far away.
