The curl-crested jay is a species of jay native to South America.
Region
Brazilian Cerrado
Typical Environment
Occurs widely across the Cerrado savanna of central Brazil, including gallery forests, wooded savannas, and forest edges. It adapts well to semi-open mosaics with scattered trees and patches of secondary woodland. The species often uses riparian corridors and transitional scrub for foraging and movement. It can persist in moderately altered landscapes, including ranchlands and agroforestry areas, provided mature fruiting trees remain.
Altitude Range
200–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The curl-crested jay is a striking corvid of Brazil’s Cerrado, instantly recognized by its unique crown of tightly curled feathers. It travels in noisy family groups and often shows bold, inquisitive behavior near people. Like many jays, it is intelligent and opportunistic, caching food and raiding nests when the chance arises.
Female curl-crested jay
Temperament
social and inquisitive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides; agile forest-edge flier
Social Behavior
Usually seen in small to medium groups that move together while foraging and calling. Cooperative behaviors are common, with group members helping to mob predators and sometimes assist at nests. Nests are placed in trees and built from twigs with a lined cup.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocal repertoire includes loud, harsh scolds, chattering calls, and clear whistles. Groups often engage in chorus calling, and individuals can imitate other species’ sounds.
Plumage
Glossy dark blue upperparts with contrasting white underparts and a black head and bib; wings and tail rich blue with darker bars.
Diet
An opportunistic omnivore, it eats insects, spiders, and other invertebrates, as well as fruits, seeds, and small vertebrates. It frequently raids nests for eggs and nestlings. The species also caches food when abundant and will exploit human-provided resources around settlements.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the midstory and canopy at forest edges, along gallery forests, and within wooded savanna. It also gathers food on the ground and in cultivated areas with scattered trees.
