The Eurasian Jay is one of the most colourful members of the Crow family which is found across a wide range of habitat from forest, moors and lower mountains, right through to urban areas.  They can be found across a wide range of Europe.  There are several species which include over 30 sub-species.

The Jay is often regarded as a pest by gamekeepers, but is popular with bird watchers, photographers, and the public due to it's lovely colours.  They can be quite common in a local areas where the habitat is right.  This is often found in the vicinity of oak trees where they compete with squirrels and other birds who also have the same fondness for acorns.  They are shy birds which are varry of humans and often rely of the cover of woodland where they are often only seen for short periods of time before flying away to deeper woodland cover.

Like many people, I have Jays in nearby deciduous woods, They are found acrooss almost all of Britian apart from the far north of Scotland.  The British population is between 150,000 and 200,000 pairs.  My Jay images below are from Kent, Scotland, and Norway.