Canada jay

Canada jay perched on a pine trunk, soft grey plumage and dark cap

The Canada jay, also known as the gray jay or whiskey jack, is a fluffy grey bird of the northern forest, with a pale face, a dark cap on the back of the head, and a short dark bill. It is bold and curious, and it will often fly in to check on anyone who stops to rest in the woods.

It lives in spruce and pine forest all year, and it spends the fall tucking food into the bark of trees to eat later in winter. I photographed these frames on one October day in the pines.

To learn more about this bird and its habitat, visit the Canada jay page at All About Birds.

These are my favourite frames of a Canada jay, taken on an October day in the pines.

Field notes in photographs

  • Canada jay perched on a pine trunk, soft grey plumage and dark cap
  • Canada jay in flight with wings fanned, landing on a pine

Canada jay Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the Canada jay in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the Canada jay lives year-round, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the Canada jay in Manitoba through the seasons: living year-round in the Boreal Shield and the Boreal Plains (teal), with a few wandering south into the Prairies in winter (blue). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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