Cyanocorax affinis (Black-chested jay)

Cyanocorax affinis (Black-chested jay) is resident from far southeastern Costa Rica through Panama to northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. It uses humid and seasonally dry forest, forest borders, secondary growth, open woodland, and cultivated areas with trees. At approximately thirteen to fourteen inches long, it is a substantial jay with a black head and upper breast, a yellow or yellow-white iris, a pale belly, and violet-blue wings and tail. Bright blue markings around the eye, on the cheek, and across the nape create a distinctive facial pattern, while pale tips mark the tail feathers. Juveniles are browner and have less developed blue facial markings.

These jays are conspicuous, vocal, and frequently encountered in pairs or small social groups. They move through several vegetation levels while searching for fruit, seeds, insects, eggs, and other available food. A strong bill allows an individual to investigate bark, fruit clusters, and crevices, and group members use varied harsh calls to maintain contact or react to danger. Their willingness to use edges and secondary vegetation brings them into gardens and agricultural landscapes where adequate tree cover remains. Like other social jays, more than two birds may attend a family group, although group size and behavior vary locally. The IUCN classifies the species as Least Concern and considers its population broadly stable. Photographed in Colombia.