The Canada Jay, a national emblem!
Photo Jonathan Guillot
It could be hard to believe as there are so many fascinating wild animals symbolizing North America, yet the Canada Jay officially became Canada's national bird in 2017, marking the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation! Indeed, it is found in the great boreal forests of all Canadian territories and provinces and nowhere else on the planet.
The Canada Jay is a friendly bird, intelligent and resistant to harsh winters. It cannot be confused. It is slightly bigger than most jays. His back and tail are deep gray, his chest and belly paler. Its beak is short, black and robust. Its winter plumage, downy and thick gives it a pleasing rounded silhouette. The thickness of its plumage is especially essential to survive the cold episodes where the temperature can easily go down to -40 ° C.
Canada Wildlife Tour
Living in boreal forests, one could think that the Canada Jay consumes mostly conifer seeds, but instead, he would rather eat insects, spiders, fruits, small mammals or even amphibians. He is also a scavenger and opportunistic bird. He will not hesitate to take eggs or chicks from other bird species. It usually searches for food with its mate, exploring its territory at low level.
Curious, he can get very close. The Canada Jay can survive winter by storing food. Indeed, it takes advantage of periods of abundance of food to hide a maximum of food, under the bark, under lichen, in the ground. It is estimated that a Mesangeai can create around 1000 caches per day during favorable months. These food reserves accumulated during the short season of abundance will be used to feed him during the seven or eight months of winter scarcity.
The Canada Jay is considered a minor concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, populations tend to decrease and global warming is probably the cause. The current climate upheavals are likely to cause the northward movement of many plants and animals. The decline is observed in the southern part of its range where the rise in temperatures is significant. The food deposits created by the species to survive harsh winters are not kept sufficiently well. Breeding success would also be down due to warmer rains that are not favorable to broods.
In Quebec, the Canadian Jay occurs in all mature boreal forests. Come and discover it in the Gaspésie National Park or during a walk in the Montmorency Forest!
If you want to see the beautiful Canada Jay in Quebec, join us on our next ethical wildlife tour to Gaspésie.
Thibaut
Guide Salva Fauna
References :
Fédération Canadienne de la Faune, Faune et Flore du Pays, le Mésangeai du Canada. Site web : www.hww.ca/fr/faune/oiseaux/le-mesangeai-du-canada.html (consulté le 27/11/2019).
Le Devoir, Le Mésangeai du Canada devient l’oiseau national du pays. Site web : www.ledevoir.com/societe/environnement/484948/le-mesangeai-du-canada-devient-l-oiseau-national-du-pays (consulté le 27/11/2019).
Union internationale pour la conservation de la nature (UICN), Grey Jay (Perisoreus canadensis). Site web : www.iucnredlist.org/species/22705783/130380194 (consulté le 27/11/2019).
