The Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) is a bird of the crow family, Corvidae, in the order Passeriformes.
Quick answer
The Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) is a colourful member of the crow family, pinkish-brown with a black moustache stripe and a bright blue-barred wing patch. It lives in woodland across Europe, North Africa and Asia. Each autumn it buries thousands of acorns to eat later, and the ones it forgets grow into new oak trees. It is listed as Least Concern.
Top questions about the Eurasian Jay
Eurasian Jay facts at a glance
- Weight 170 g
- Length 34 cm
- Lifespan 4 years
| Scientific name | Garrulus glandarius |
|---|---|
| Diet | Acorns and other seeds, insects, eggs and nestlings |
| Habitat | Broadleaved and mixed woodland, parks and large gardens |
| Length | About 34 cm |
| Weight | About 170 g |
| Lifespan | Typically 4 years; oldest ringed bird 16 years 9 months |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2025) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Genus | Garrulus |
Where it lives
The eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) is native to Woodland across Europe, north-west Africa and Asia east to Japan and south-east Asia. — recorded across Europe, Asia, Africa in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
How big is a eurasian jay?
An adult eurasian jay measures 34 cm long — about 20% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 170 g, a small fraction of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).
Length vs an average adult’s height (to scale)
What is a group of eurasian jays called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Eurasian Jays is called a party.
Baby name
A baby Eurasian Jay is called a chick.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Identification
Jays are pinkish-brown with a white rump, a black tail, a streaked crest that can be raised, a bold black moustache and a patch of electric-blue feathers barred with black on each wing. They are shy in woodland and usually given away by their harsh, screeching call.
Acorn planters
In autumn jays collect acorns, carrying several at a time in the throat, and bury them singly in the ground to eat over winter. Many are never recovered, so jays are among the most important dispersers of oak trees in Europe.
Mimicry
Jays are skilled mimics. They copy the calls of other birds, especially the mewing of the common buzzard, as well as other sounds from their surroundings.
Status
BirdLife International lists the Eurasian jay as Least Concern (2025), estimating 24 to 46 million mature birds and a stable trend. Jays are mostly resident but move in large numbers in years when the acorn crop fails.
Explore the Eurasian Jay
Close relatives
- Crow Same family
- Magpie Same family
- Rook Same family
- Hooded Crow Same family
Range & geography
Did you know? Eurasian Jay facts
- Jays carry several acorns at once in their throat.
- They often imitate the mewing call of the common buzzard.
Conservation status of the Eurasian Jay
The Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Least Concern (LC) is the IUCN's lowest-risk category, assigned to widespread, abundant species that have been evaluated and found not to be threatened. It does not mean a species faces no pressures — only that it is not currently at risk of extinction.
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2025. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Eurasian Jay
Is a jay a crow?
Yes. Jays belong to the crow family, Corvidae, along with magpies, rooks, jackdaws and ravens.
Why do jays bury acorns?
To store food for winter. They remember many of the hiding places, but the acorns they miss can grow into new oaks.
What is the difference between a Eurasian jay and a blue jay?
They are different species in different genera. The blue jay of North America is mostly blue and white; the Eurasian jay is pinkish-brown with blue only on the wings.
How long do jays live?
BTO data give a typical life expectancy of 4 years; the oldest ringed jay lived 16 years and 9 months.
What is a group of eurasian jays called?
A group of Eurasian Jays is called a party.
What is a baby eurasian jay called?
A baby Eurasian Jay is called a chick.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Eurasian Jay:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Garrulus glandarius, most recently assessed in 2025.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Garrulus glandarius. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
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GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Garrulus glandarius. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
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eBird — bird observations
Cornell Lab eBird target search for Eurasian Jay. Check recent checklists and seasonal abundance where birders report this species.
- BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.
IUCN Red List category Least Concern (assessed 2025), population estimate and trend.
- Animal Diversity Web: Garrulus glandarius. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Size, lifespan and behaviour.
- BTO BirdFacts: Jay. British Trust for Ornithology.
Typical lifespan, oldest ringed bird and UK body weight.
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
Average body mass.
- Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.
English and scientific name, classification and range.
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