The Green Jay (*Cyanocorax yncas*) is a strikingly beautiful bird found in two disjunct populations — one ranging from southern Texas through Central America, and another in South America along the Andes. It is instantly recognizable by its vivid plumage: a brilliant combination of bright green on the back, wings, and belly; a bold blue and black head with a blue crown, black bib, and blue cheek patches; and yellow outer tail feathers that flash in flight. Measuring about 27–30 cm (10–12 inches) in length, it is a medium-sized member of the corvid family and shares the intelligence characteristic of that group, having been observed using sticks as tools to extract insects from bark. Green Jays are highly social and vocal birds, living in family groups and producing a wide variety of calls, from harsh chatters to softer, more musical notes. They inhabit forest edges, thickets, and woodlands, where they forage omnivore-style on insects, small vertebrates, seeds, and fruit. In Texas, they are a prized sighting for birdwatchers, particularly in the brushlands of the Rio Grande Valley.
