Lidth’s Jay
Garrulus lidthi
- Family
- Crows, Jays, and Magpies (Corvidae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
Lidth's jay (Garrulus lidthi), also known as the Amami jay, is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae native to the Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
Measuring up to 38 cm (15 in) in total length, it is slightly larger than its close relative the Eurasian jay, with a proportionately stouter bill and also a longer tail. It has no discernible crest, with the head feathers a velvety black, the shoulders and back a deep purplish blue and all other parts a rich chestnut purple.
This jay has a very restricted distribution occurring only on the southern Japanese islands of Amami Ōshima and Kakeromajima.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Ryukyu Islands (Amami Ōshima and Tokuno-Shima, southern Japan).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Lidth's jay
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
