COLUMN: A crow awash with colour

But whilst most of the crows in the UK do look rather like this, there is one that has definitely gone to the other extreme. That is the jay.

Jays are a little bit smaller than the average crow, but with a long tail. Unlike their dour brethren they are awash with colour. Pale pink, to be exact. Most of their bodies are pink, they have a metallic blue flash on their wings, and a black tail and a large white patch on their bum. They also have a black and white streaked crest, normally kept flat, which they can raise when they are excited. All in all, pretty distinctive. Especially from behind as it flies away (the most common view you get!) with the black tail and white rump being very clear.

Jays are normally secretive woodland birds, preferring to stay away from humans. However winter time is when you are more likely to see them. When food runs low in the woods, they search further afield. And they have discovered garden feeders can be a valuable resource.

They are particularly fond of peanuts, maybe because it closely resembles acorns, their natural food. Some will be eaten immediately, but often they take more than they can eat.

Because jays are clever birds, and have learnt to plan ahead. So they will set up little food stores in times of plenty. Cached food that can later be refound when times are harder, and eaten then. Well, most of the time. Their memory is not foolproof, and some will get missed.

Which is actually how oak woods survive. If you think of an acorn, it is not going to float away on the breeze. Instead it will fall straight down and lie under the parent tree, on top of ground where the tree is already taking out the moisture and nutrients. But jays will collect the acorns, take them elsewhere any bury them. If it forgets where the acorn is buried, in the spring the acorn can germinate, and a new oak tree can grow!

So the English countryside with its oak woods owes a lot to these birds.