CROWS, RAVENS, MAGPIES, JAYS, AND NUTCRACKERS

ORDER Passeriformes
FAMILY Corvidae

American Crow   Steller's Jay Northwestern Crow   Blue Jay Fish Crow     Black-billed Magpie Common Raven
COOL FACT	TOP
Birds in the Family Corvidae (called "corvids") are among the smartest birds known (probably second to birds in the parrot family). Magpies can find objects that have been moved from one hiding place to another, even when they didn't witness the objects being moved. Clark's Nutcrackers (pictured left) can remember a thousand different locations where food has been hidden. Some corvids are thought to be able to recognize all of the individuals in their family group.
ORDER Passeriformes	TOP
Perching birds
Largest order of birds.  Click here to learn more about the Order Passeriformes.
FAMILY Corvidae	TOP
Crows, ravens, jays, magpies, nutcrackers
Number of species 115
Characteristics medium to large for songbirds generalists (eat many different types of foods) live in groups sexes are similar in size and color, juveniles look like adults groups within the family are distinct: crows and ravens are large and all black, with large beaks magpies have bold black and white patterns and have very long tails jays are brightly colored, usually with shades of blue
COOL FACTS about Family Corvidae	TOP
Pinyon Jays live in flocks that move around together in a large area called a home range. They mate for life and the pairs build their nests inside the home range. Most of the pairs in a flock nest at the same time. Pinyon Jays that nest too close together steal nesting material from each other, sometimes causing nests to fail. Some one-year-old males that do not nest, help their parents feed their new nestlings. Nests with "helpers" often produced more young than nests without helpers.