Latin name:
Pertsoreus Canadensis
Yupik name:
Neqaig, Kisirallerr
Gray Jays are tame, dusky-plumaged residents
of montane and boreal forests, well known for their habit of
turning up at picnic tables and campgrounds in their bold search
for food. This Jay has a characteristic flight that is straight
and direct, its rapid wingbeats alternating with sustained glides.
Because these jays are usually silent, they can be difficult to
spot even though they are relatively common and widespread.
Nonetheless, they are capable of a wide variety of notes that can
give pause to even an experienced birder. One seldom finds a lone
Gray Jay in the woods; these birds always seem to wander in pairs
or small groups.
Description
10-13" (25.5-33 cm). The adult Gray Jay is
uniformly gray on the back, wings, and tail, and white on the
crown, cheeks, and throat; there is a distinct black patch on the
nape that extends up to the crown and into the eyes. Juveniles are
distinct, with uniformly dark gray, almost blackish, plumage; most
also have a distinct white whisker mark.
Voice
Usually silent, but gives a wide variety of
whistles and chattering notes; these phrases are usually short and
soft.
Similar Species
See Clark's Nutcracker and Northern Shrike
(only other gray, black, and white birds in Gray Jay's
range).
Range
Resident from tree line of Alaska, Yukon,
Mackenzie, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, and Labrador
south to northern California, Arizona, northern New Mexico, Black
Hills of South Dakota, northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and
Michigan; also in northern New York, Maine, New
Brunswick,
This collection of student work is from Frank Keim's classes. He wants to share these works for others to use as an example of culturally-based curriculum and documentation. These documents have been OCR-scanned and are available for educational use only.
