BIRDGACHA / FIELD NOTES

Crows, Jays

Crows, ravens, jays, magpies and their relatives are generally robust songbirds with strong bills and adaptable feet. Plumage ranges from plain black to vivid blue, green or patterned combinations, while tail length, crests and bill proportions differ greatly between lineages. Examples include Malayan Black Magpie (Platysmurus leucopterus), Siberian Jay (Perisoreus infaustus), and Black-collared Jay (Cyanolyca armillata). Many are flexible feeders, taking insects, seeds, fruit and other foods, with food storage important in some species. Long tails, crests and contrasting wing patches distinguish many jays and magpies within this diverse strong-billed family.

How to recognize Crows, Jays

Compare bill depth, head shape and overall body proportions.
Check tail length, any crest and contrasting wing or body patches.
Use calls and social behaviour without assuming all corvids are black.

Where they live

The family occurs in most of the world, with different lineages concentrated in particular continents. Forests, woodland, mountains, grasslands and human settlements support different corvids. Some are widespread generalists, while others have narrow forest or island ranges, so the habitat tolerance of familiar urban crows should not be extended to every jay or magpie. Observe social behaviour and voice alongside the landscape; these clues help distinguish similarly coloured birds with overlapping ranges.

Species accounts: Malayan Black Magpie · Siberian Jay · Black-collared Jay

Sources — natural history: Wikipedia: Crows, Jays · Cornell Birds of the World: Siberian Jay (Perisoreus infaustus), species natural history.

Classification: IOC World Bird List: family names and classification.

Some Cornell Birds of the World account sections require a subscription.

Updated 2026-11-06. Species counts follow this site's catalogue. This is an editorial summary, not an expert peer review.