Yucatan Jay

The adult Yucatan jay has a black head, nape, and underparts. The back, wings, and tail are a sharp blue colour. It has black irises, black eye rings, a black beak, and yellow legs and feet. There is no difference between the sexes.

Moults. The Yucatan jay has several distinct plumages throughout its life cycle. Juvenile Yucatan jays have a white head, body, and tail tip. The back is a soft blue, and the wings and tail are a soft grey, aside from the outer rectrices which are white. The beak, legs, and feet are a soft yellow tinged with pink. The inside of the beak is white and the irises are dark brown. These features start to fade a few weeks after they fledge. At this point, the legs, feet, beak, and eye ring become more distinctly yellow. The prebasic moult also begins at this point, with the white head and body feathers being replaced with black ones.

During the first year, the Yucatan jay has an entirely black head and body. The legs, feet, and eye rings remain yellow. The inside of the beak remains white, but takes on a glaucous tone. The wings become bluer, and the tail becomes a purplish blue colour. The back and tail turn a deeper grey, and the rectrices are tipped with white. In June or August, the bill may start to develop dark patches, while remaining overall yellow. …

The Yucatan jay is found primarily in the Yucatán Peninsula, which comprises the northern part of the nation of Belize; Guatemala's northern El Petén Department; and the Mexican states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Campeche. It is also present in parts of the neighbouring states of Chiapas and Tabasco. The habitats of the Yucatan Jay vary slightly depending on the subspecies. The nominate species (C. y. yucatanicus) is found most often in both humid and scrubby forests, but can also be found in coastal scrub. C. y. rivularis, found in the southwest portion of the Yucatan peninsula, can be found in almost any type of forest. It can also be found in pine forests and swamps, however it is not common in these areas. Both subspecies can be found at elevations up to 500 m (1,600 ft). The Yucatan jay is non-migratory.