- Where to see one
- 3 U.S. zoos in our directory hold plush-crested jay, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the plush-crested jay
The plush-crested jay is a medium-sized, dark blue member of the crow family, named for the rounded crest on its head. The upper breast, neck and head are mostly black, with lighter blue cheeks and nape, a yellow spot above each eye and a cream-yellow belly and tail tip. It lives across central-southern South America, from southwestern Brazil and Bolivia to Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. Flocks of 5 to 15 birds forage on the ground or in trees for seeds, nuts and insects, and sometimes take eggs, frogs or snakes. Chicks are raised cooperatively, with helpers bringing food and guarding the nest.
Plush-crested Jay facts
- Flocks of 5 to 11 birds in spring and summer grow to 8 to 15 in fall and winter.
- Several flock members act as helpers, feeding the brood, removing droppings and defending the nest.
- They have been seen following ants back to their nests to eat the ants or nearby insects.
- Its range extends about 3500 km from Sao Paulo south to Rio Grande do Sul.
Where to see plush-crested jay in the U.S.
3 zoos across 3 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 2 zoos holding plush-crested jay by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
1 more zoo holds plush-crested jay but has no coordinates on file yet, so it isn't ranked here. It's in the full list below.
Massachusetts· 1
Pennsylvania· 1
Tennessee· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
