Cyanocorax

Cyanocorax
Plush-crested Jay, Cyanocorax chrysops
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Corvidae
Genus:	Cyanocorax Boie, 1826
Species
17-18, see text.

Cyanocorax is a genus of New World jays, passerine birds in the crow family, Corvidae. The generic name is derived from the Greek words κυανος (kuanos), meaning "dark blue," and κοραξ (korax), meaning "raven".^[1]

It contains several closely related species that primarily are found in wooded habitats of Mexico and Central and South America, with two species, the Brown Jay and the Green Jay, just barely entering the United States. Coincidentally, these are also the only species in this genus where the upperparts are not primarily blue or purplish.

Species

• Bushy-crested Jay, Cyanocorax melanocyaneus
• San Blas Jay, Cyanocorax sanblasianus
• Yucatan Jay, Cyanocorax yucatanicus
• Purplish-backed Jay, Cyanocorax beecheii
• Violaceous Jay, Cyanocorax violaceus
• Azure Jay, Cyanocorax caeruleus
• Purplish Jay, Cyanocorax cyanomelas
• Curl-crested Jay, Cyanocorax cristatellus
• Tufted Jay, Cyanocorax dickeyi
• Black-chested Jay, Cyanocorax affinis
• White-tailed Jay, Cyanocorax mystacalis
• Cayenne Jay, Cyanocorax cayanus
• Azure-naped Jay, Cyanocorax heilprini
• Plush-crested Jay, Cyanocorax chrysops
• White-naped Jay, Cyanocorax cyanopogon
• Green Jay, Cyanocorax yncas
  • Inca Jay, Cyanocorax (yncas) yncas
  • Green Jay, Cyanocorax (yncas) luxuosus
• Brown Jay, Cyanocorax morio

References

1. ^ Holloway, Joel Ellis (2003). Dictionary of Birds of the United States: Scientific and Common Names. Timber Press. p. 79. ISBN 9780881926002. http://books.google.com/books?id=O07_W9NF39MC&. 

• Madge, S.; H. Burn (1999). Crows and Jays. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0713652071. 

External links

Data related to Cyanocorax at Wikispecies Media related to Cyanocorax at Wikimedia Commons