Jay

The Jay is a brightly coloured bird, easy to recognise by its pinkish-brown feathers, bright blue patches on its wings with black stripes, a white patch on its lower back that is clear when it flies, and a black tail. It also has a black stripe above its beak and a streaked head, which make it stand out. Although it is cautious and often heard before seen, its loud screeching call can be heard across the woods. The Jay is found widely across Britain and Europe, and even into Asia. It prefers woods with broad-leaved trees and mixed forests, especially where oak trees grow. It is very clever at storing acorns for the winter, which helps it survive the cold months. In doing so, it also accidentally plants thousands of new trees. When it is not breeding, Jays may gather in small groups and sometimes visit large gardens near wooded areas.