C. y. galeatus (Ridgway, 1900) – Found in western Colombia. Similar to C. y. yncas but with a larger crest.[10]
C. y. cyanodorsalisDubois, AJC, 1874 – East if the Andes in Colombia and northwest Venezuela. Smaller that C. y. geleatus but with a dark blue crest, white stripe on the forehead, blue crown and neck, dark green back, and darker legs.[10]
C. y. guatimalensis (Bonaparte, 1850) – Found in mountainous region in northern Venezuela. Silimar to C. y. cyandorsalis, but with shorter crest, less blue overall, and thinner white stripe on forehead. Brownish legs and irises.[10]
C. y. yncas (Boddaert, 1783) – Found in southwestern Columbia to eastern Ecuador and peru, into central Bolivia. Nominate species.[10]
C. y. longirostris (Carriker, 1933) – Found along the Marañon Valley in north Peru. Similar to C. y. yncas but larger.
Some ornithologists treat the green jay of North America and the Inca jay as conspecific and with C. yncas luxuosus as the green jay and C. yncas yncas as the Inca jay.[11][12] A 2010 mitochondrial DNA study found that there were some genetic differences that support the theory that they are separate species, although it indicated that further research was required to confirm the findings.[13]
The following cladogram (simplified from the 2010 mitochondrial DNA study) shows the relationship between species in the Cyanocorax genus.[14]
The Inca jay is 29.5–30.5 cm (11.6–12.0 in) in length. The crown can appear mostly white, with blue limited to the frontal crest and nape. A black bib forms a broad band up to the sides of the head as well as a stripe through the eye line and one above it. The breast and underparts typically are bright yellow. The upper parts are rich green. The color of the iris is bright yellow.[15]
As with most of the typical jays, this species has a very extensive voice repertoire. The bird's most common call makes a rassh-rassh-rassh sound, but many other unusual notes also occur. One of the most distinctive calls sounds like an alarm bell.
Inca jays usually build a nest in a tree or in a thorny bush or thicket, and the female lays three to five eggs. Only the female incubates, but both parents take care of the young. In Venezuela, they have been observed being victims of nest parasitism by giant cowbirds.
^ abcdGiese, Jordan C.; Hall, Jared D. (19 January 2024). Billerman, Shawn M. (ed.). "Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.grnjay.02.
^Dickinson, E.C.; Christidis, L., eds. (2014). The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2: Passerines (4th ed.). Eastbourne, UK: Aves Press. pp. 240–241. ISBN978-0-9568611-2-2.
^Ridgely, Robert S.; Tudor, Guy (2009). Birds of South America: Passerines. Helm Field Guides. London: Christopher Helm. p. 518. ISBN978-1-408-11342-4.
