Crows, Jays and Magpies Corvidae
22 genera are recognized in the family, of which 12 are thus far listed below. There are 119 species within the family, of which 1 is
critically endangered, 4 are endangered, 8 are vulnerable, and another 11 are
near-threatened. In addition, the Hawaiian Crow Corvus hawaiiensis is now extinct in the wild.
Perisoreus
There are 3 species within this genus. The Sichuan Jay Perisoreus internigrans is considered vulnerable
The Grey Jay Perisoreus canadensis is a North American endemic, found primarily in montane and boreal forests. They are affectionately
called "camp robbers", due to their bold nature of showing up at picnic tables and campgrounds, in search of
food scraps. This individual was photographed at the Santa Fe ski basin, New Mexico, December 2004.
Cyanocorax
There are 17 species within this genus. The Azure Jay Cyanocorax caeruleus and the Tufted Jay Cyanocorax dickeyi
are both considered near-threatened.
The Green Jay Cyanocorax yncas is a New World tropical bird that may best be considered two distinct species.
The yellower "Inca Jay" is found in South America, while the greener "Green Jay" is found from the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, south
to Honduras. For some unknown reason, this species is absent from Nicaragua to Panama, creating two widely disjunct populations. This Green
Jay was photographed at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, February 2005.
Calocitta
There are 2 species within this genus.
The unmistakable White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa is found in arid and semihumid woodlands, and open areas along
the Pacific slope from central Mexico, south to northwestern Costa Rica. It appears that they are spreading their range south through Costa Rica.
This individual was photographed at the Volcan Arenal National Park, Alajuela, Costa Rica, June 2007.
Cyanocitta
There are 2 species within this genus.
Often mistakenly called "Blue Jays", the Stellar's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri is found in coniferous forests from Alaska, south
to Central America. In the western United States, they are a familiar sight in campgrounds and picnic areas, where they boldly
scavenge for food. This Steller's Jay was photographed at Sunset Crater, near Flagstaff, Arizona, August 2003.
Aphelocoma
There are 5 species within this genus. The Florida Scrub-jay Aphelocoma coerulescens is vulnerable and
the Island Scrub-jay Aphelocoma insularis is near-threatened.
Florida Scrub-jay Aphelocoma coerulescens at Oscar Sherer State Park, Sarasota County, Florida, November 2009.
Mexican Jay Aphelocoma ultramarina at Cave Creek Ranch, Portal, Arizona, April 2001.
Gymnorhinus
This is the only member of the this genus and it is listed as vulnerable.
The Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus is common in pinyon-juniper woodlands in foothill and mountainous areas of the western USA and northern
Baja California. They are very sociable birds, often forming flocks of several hundred birds. This photograph was taken at Fool Hollow Lake State Park, Show Low, Arizona, June 2006.
Urocissa
There are 5 members of this this genus. The Sri Lanka Magpie Urocissa ornata is listed as vulnerable.
Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, January 2009.
Dendrocitta
There are 6 members of the this genus. The Andaman Treepie Dendrocitta bayleyi is listed as near-threatened.
Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda at Huay Tung Tao Lake, near Chang Mai, Thailand, January 2009.
Pica
There are 3 species within this genus.
The Yellow-billed Magpie Pica nuttalli is one of the most range restricted residents in all of North America. They inhabit
the rangelands and foothills of northern and central California. This Yellow-billed Magpie was photographed at Santa Margarita, California.
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica at the Attenborough nature reserve, Nottinghamshire, England, June 2009.
American Magpie Pica hudsonia in the Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, July 2008.
Nucifraga
There are 2 species within this genus.
The Clark's Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana is found in montane coniferous forests of western North America and rarely northern Mexico. Like
the similar looking Gray Jay, they can be very confiding. Both are known to enter tents and cabins looking for food scraps, earning them the name
"camp robbers". Photographed in the San Francisco Mountains, near Flagstaff, Arizona,
Pyrrhocorax
There are 2 species within this genus.
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax at South Stack, near Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales, July 2009.
Corvus
There are 45 species in this genus. Banggai Crow C. unicolor is
critically endangered, Flores Crow C. florensis, Mariana Crow C. kubaryi, and Cuban Palm Crow
C. minutus are endangered. White-necked Crow C. leucognathalus is
vulnerable, and the Brown-headed Crow C. fuscicapillus and Hispaniolan Palm Crow
C. palmarum are near-threatened.
Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula at Flamborough Head, near Bridlington, England, May 2005.
Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina, June 2008.
Chihuahuan Raven Corvus cryptoleucus along Highway 60, about 10 miles east of Vaughn, New Mexico, May 2009.
Rook Corvus frugilegus at Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire, England, June 2009.
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos at Lumpini Park, Bangkok, Thailand, January 2009.
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