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Birds · Eurasian jay

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Discover the Eurasian jay

A flash of blue among the oak leaves! Puschel looks up. A jay carries away an acorn. What might it do with it?

Puschel and Flauschi look up at a wild Eurasian jay with pinkish-brown plumage, blue-and-black barred wing feathers and an acorn in its beak on an oak branch
The jay carries away an acorn. Its bright blue-and-black barred wing feathers are a clue to its identity.

The short answer

A jay often shows blue-and-black patterned wing feathers. It stores acorns. Some remain in the ground and can sprout, so its food-storing can help new oaks grow.

Listen to the animal

Real sounds from nature

The Eurasian jay’s call

Its loud, harsh call sounds quite different from a gentle chirp.

Recording: Amada44 / Wikimedia Commons · Original title: Eichelhäher ruf.ogg · CC BY 3.0 · MP3 conversion of the original recording
Puschel and Flauschi look up at a wild Eurasian jay with pinkish-brown plumage, blue-and-black barred wing feathers and an acorn in its beak on an oak branch
Puschel and Flauschi look up at a wild Eurasian jay with pinkish-brown plumage, blue-and-black barred wing feathers and an acorn in its beak on an oak branch

An imagined Wusel scene

Puschel and Flauschi investigate

Puschel stops beneath the oak. Something blue flashes among the yellow leaves. ‘Flauschi, has someone borrowed a bit of my fur?’ Flauschi looks up and smiles. ‘That is a Eurasian jay. Look at its wing feathers!’

The bird holds an acorn in its beak and flies a little farther. Puschel wants to rush after it. But Flauschi gently touches his arm. ‘Let’s leave it in peace. Perhaps it is hiding that acorn for later.’ They watch quietly until the flash of blue disappears between the trees.

Real animal facts

Four things to know

Blue wing feathers

A Eurasian jay is mostly brownish. Small bright blue feathers with black bars on its wings are especially easy to spot.

Acorns for later

In autumn, jays collect acorns and hide them one at a time in the ground or under leaves. They do not find every hiding place again.

New oak trees

Some forgotten acorns can grow into new oak trees. In this way the bird helps trees spread through the woods.

A loud warning call

Its harsh loud call can alert other animals to danger. Sometimes you hear a jay before you see it.

Mini quiz

What do you remember?

1. Which colour stands out on a jay’s wing?

Choose one answer: a), b) or c).

  • a)Yellow with dark stripes
  • b)Blue with black bars
  • c)Red with white spots
Show answer

Correct answer: b): Blue with black bars Blue with black bars

2. Which fruit is the jay carrying in its beak in our picture?

Choose one answer: a), b) or c).

  • a)Acorns
  • b)Beechnuts
  • c)Berries
Show answer

Correct answer: a): Acorns Acorns

3. What can grow from a forgotten acorn?

Choose one answer: a), b) or c).

  • a)A new beech tree
  • b)A hazel shrub
  • c)A new oak tree
Show answer

Correct answer: c): A new oak tree A new oak tree

Explore in more detail

Here you will find longer explanations and further details. You can explore them together.

Understand step by step

How it works – simply explained

How the steps connect
  1. Supplies are distributed
  2. Forgotten supplies may sprout
  3. Features do not show everything

Supplies are distributed

Jays collect acorns and hide them in different places for later food.

Forgotten supplies may sprout

Some are not retrieved and grow under suitable conditions, helping oaks spread.

Features do not show everything

Blue wing feathers aid recognition, but hidden supplies or future trees may be absent from the picture. Text explains that connection.

References for this explanation: [1]

Pictures and sources for adults