Black-headed Jay
Photo: Rakeshkdogra · CC BY-SA 4.0

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Black-headed Jay

Garrulus lanceolatus

LCLeast Concern
Family
Crows, Jays, and Magpies (Corvidae)
Order
Passeriformes

Overview

The black-headed jay or lanceolated jay (Garrulus lanceolatus) is a species of passerine bird in the crow family Corvidae. It is found in open wooded country across the Himalayas and into eastern Afghanistan. A relatively large songbird, it has a largely grey body with a black head, an untidy crest, white streaks on the throat, and a pale bill. It is roughly the same size as its close relative the Eurasian jay, but a little more slender overall.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Himalayas (Afghanistan to northern India and central Nepal).

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.