Green Jay /Chara Verde (Cyanocorax yncas)
Voice: Varied vocalizations. The most common calls are the harsh, nasal “eenk,eenk,eenk,eenk” and a higher “stick, stick, stick.” Also in its repertoire are squeaky noises and frog-like croaks “grrrrrr” and urrrrrr.”
Habitat: Green Jays are widespread throughout the Valley wherever sufficient cover exists. They prefer dense riparian woods and woodland edges.
Best Spots: Feeding stations at Bentsen SP (along inner loop), Santa Ana NWR (near visitor center), Laguna Atascosa (photo blind), and Sabal Palm Grove (visitor center). Commonly seen along Rio Grande in the Falcon Dam area. Also seen at city parks, including World Birding Center’s Quinta Mazatlán in McAllen and Resaca de la Palma State Park Visitor Center
Similar Species: Adorned with blue, black, green, and yellow, this small strikingly patterned bird is unmistakable. Other than the much larger, duller (and extremely localized) Brown Jay, it is the only jay in its Valley range.
A speaker symbol next to the bird indicates that it has a sound file available.All Bird call recordings © John C. Arvin.
Call (956) 584-2731 to hear or submit an alert.
- Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley (Mission)
- Edinburg Scenic Wetlands
- Estero Llano Grande (Weslaco)
- Harlingen Arroyo Colorado
- Old Hidalgo Pumphouse
- Quinta Mazatlan (McAllen)
- Resaca de la Palma (Brownsville)
- Roma Bluffs
- South Padre Island Birding
and Nature Center
Welcome to a birder’s eye view of the seasons in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Enjoy our annual cycle! The resulting avifauna in deep South Texas is the most diverse north of the Mexican border. The four county area that makes up the lower Rio Grande Valley has recorded over 500 species of birds. This is more species of birds than have been recorded in all but two or three entire states. Small wonder that birders from across the continent make pilgrimages to the region. Happy Birding!
A "Bird Checklist" is a complete list of birds that have been seen or heard in a specific region like Texas or the Rio Grande Valley. Checklists can be used as a personal diary of your travels.
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Checklists by site:
