This is Bird Note.

Adorned in shades of peridogreen, sapphire blue, and onyx black, the green

the green jay is a jewel-toned wonder with a voice as loud as its color palette.

These brilliant jays thrive in woodlands and tropical forests.

They can be found in North and Central America from southern Texas to northern Belize.

A second population lives in South America along the Andes Mountains from Venezuela to Bolivia.

Like Blue Jays, crows, and other corvids,

Green Jays are clever, adventurous eaters,

happy to grab a bite from a bird feeder,

berry bush or bug-riddled brushpile.

Green Jays even use sticks to pry open tree bark

in search of tasty insects. a rare skill among songbirds.

Green Jays often travel in family flocks that include a breeding pair, recently fledged young, and last year's juveniles.

The Jays' noisy, rasping chatter helps ward off predators

and keep their colorful kin together.

Listen carefully for their clangorous calls

for a chance to glimpse these gems yourself.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.

This episode is sponsored by Bruce Haney, in thanks to all those who steward the parks,

refuges, and nature preserves that support birds, especially in Deep South Texas,

where Green Jays thrive.