Violaceus jay – Part of the dawn chorus heard by our Ecolodge guests
12 September 2026 (168 visits)The violaceus jay (Cyanocorax violaceus) is one of the more than 600 bird species that live in the protected Amazon rainforest that surrounds our comfortable jungle eco-lodge. It is a favorite among both the specialist birdwatchers who visit us and our other guests, who particularly enjoy hearing its contribution to the chorus of birdsong that can be enjoyed from all our lodge buildings, including our guests’ rooms, during the guided Amazon jungle stays we offer.
The violaceus jay is a medium to large, colorful bird, and is a member of the crow and jay family (Corvidae). Like the other members of its family, it is known to be an intelligent bird. It can be identified in the rainforest during our guided excursions by its violet-blue back and wings, its indigo-blue tail, and its black head and throat patch. Set into its striking black facial mask, its eyes are light-colored. Around its nape and neck areas, the plumage exhibits a smoky, bluish-grey wash.
Here in Tambopata, its preferred habitat includes the forest, forest edges and the banks of our region’s rivers, including the Tambopata River itself. Its habit of visiting forest edges means it can often be seen among the trees that surround our lodge buildings, or even in the tropical gardens we maintain between our free-standing cabin-style rooms.
While its plumage and size are distinctive, it can be most readily identified by its raucous vocalizations, as it travels through the rainforest canopy in groups of up to twelve individuals, feeding mostly on fruit, arthropods, eggs, and even small lizards. Its vocalizations are distinctive and well-known to our guides, and feature gurgling, clicking, clopping and rippling sounds, as well as a distinctive “jeeeerrrr”.
