Lidth's jay
| Lidth's Jay | ||||||||||||||
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| File:Lidth's jay.jpg | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Garrulus lidthi |
Lidth's Jay (Garrulus lidthi) is slightly larger than it's close relative the Eurasian Jay with a proportionately stouter bill and also a longer tail. No discernible crest with the head feathers a velvety black, the shoulders and back a deep purplish blue and all other parts a rich chestnut purple.
This Jay has a very restricted distribution only occouring on the southern Japanese islands of Anami Oshima and also on Tokinoshima in pine forest, sub-tropical woodland and cultivated areas especially around villages.
Food is largely made up of the acorns of the native Oak Quercus cuspidata but takes small reptiles and invertebrates of many types.
It nests in large cavities in trees but otherwise the nest is the same as the other two Garrulus species and lays 3-4 eggs.
The voice is similar to the Eurasian Jay.